Ukraine Defeating Itself /Patrick Henningsen & Lt Col Daniel Davis

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Danny and Patrick Henningsen argue that Ukraine’s war effort is being severely undermined not only by Russia but by Ukraine’s own internal political dysfunction and corruption. They cite an article suggesting Kyiv has chosen a “slow loss” over negotiating peace, a decision they view as dangerous and potentially self-destructive.

They discuss how domestic political support for President Zelensky is eroding, noting conscription problems, public fatigue, and growing corruption scandals—particularly one involving Zelensky’s close associate. The guest explains that Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency NABU was originally set up with U.S. influence after 2014, not to stop corruption but to control and manage it, protecting Western-aligned interests while targeting others.

The emergence of a major corruption scandal from NABU suggests, in their view, that U.S. protection for Zelensky may be weakening. They compare Ukraine’s situation to Afghanistan, where Western money fed systemic corruption until the state collapsed rapidly.

European leaders publicly continue supporting Ukraine, but the speakers argue this is largely political theater—such as Macron’s recent “memorandum of understanding” for future fighter jets that won’t materialize for years, long after Zelensky is gone. Overall, they suggest Ukraine is trapped in a Western-driven proxy war with no realistic path to victory, while corruption and political decay accelerate its decline.