'Ukraine's new 'crucial leverage' could force Putin to negotiate end of war'

Tension between and the West is at a critical point. This was always going to be the next stage of nerve-shredding brinkmanship the would create.

Neither side will back down but Ukraine has just been handed crucial leverage that may force into negotiations to end the war. Most reasonable people understand this is Putin’s war and he has bombarded misery, death and destruction on .

But with Ukraine on firing America-supplied missiles upon targets inside Russia it can now assault Putin’s military in-depth, far across the border. Previously Kyiv was held back like a diminutive boxer trying to deliver a body blow to a taller opponent holding his head- the smaller fighter’s team also imposing stricter rules on him.

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With those impossible restrictions Ukraine’s iron will was being sapped with every Russian missile attack on its energy sites and civilians. Now Ukraine has the reach and potency to hit Putin’s long range missile silos, weapons caches and airfields - taking the war to a population that thus far has been largely unaffected by the war.

And if Kyiv and its western allies can hold their nerve against Putin’s desperate nuclear threat this may force the Russian leader to find an exit ramp and some kind of end to large-scale hostilities. An end to the war is not yet in sight and Ukraine and the west will likely face more terrors - such as the threat of nuclear war, which, though remotely possible, is extremely unlikely.

But Kyiv has been handed a puncher’s chance - in a war against a foe that only understands strength and violence - whilst the west has gone almost all-in by backing it.