Western officials fear that the attack by Ukrainian forces on the Kursk region, which Moscow has labeled a provocation and terrorist act and which resulted in civilian casualties, could sow discord among Kiev’s allies, according to Bloomberg.
Some have expressed concerns both publicly and privately, pointing out that the escalation of fighting might divert much-needed Ukrainian troops from the fragile front line and potentially create rifts among Kiev’s backers.
According to a senior official quoted by the agency, the West believes that Kiev chose an inopportune time for the attack on the Kursk region.
Additionally, some of Ukraine’s allies are dissatisfied with the lack of clarity regarding Kiev’s objectives in this action.
Threatening the nuclear power plant along with ZNPP was most likely the original goal, and that was probably the hare brained scheme to try and get some leverage over Russia when the negotiations start. Given that they got nowhere close to it, I think it’s safe to say the gambit failed.
It does reek of a desperation move
They are absolutely desperate at this point. The brewing conflict with Iran is taking attention from the war already, and on top of it Russia is taking territory at an ever increasing rate. Convincing western sponsors to dump more money into this must be very difficult right now.