Russia's invasion has inadvertently created a 'formidable collective Western coalition'
Ukraine has emerged stronger than Russia with the West's backing – forming a formidable alliance of allies in the process, according to a recent armed conflict survey.
"This war has activated the West, it's created a formidable collective western coalition," Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, Editor of the IISS Strategic Survey 2022 said.
The recent IISS (International Institute for Strategic Studies) Armed Conflict Survey 2022 has highlighted the global impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Dr Gould-Davies highlighted that the war has been "extremely unpredictable"..."every time we think we know where it's leading, events have changed and a new reality has emerged".
The IISS StrategicSurvey editor added that "at this point, Ukraine is, relatively speaking, stronger than Russia in all of the elements of warfare."
However, he stressed that "winter is coming", and that will make things harder for Ukraine.
Western support must remain "resolute and strong"
"Russia now is working, shifting its tactics, working to destroy civilian infrastructure, energy and water facilities, in particular, that's making life more difficult for Ukraine", Dr Gould-Davies said.
He added: "But Ukraine at this point has very high morale, experienced soldiers and they are defending their territory. So there is at least the possibility that they could continue making gains and push Russia out completely.
"That will be harder than what they've done before, the key thing though is that Western support remains resolute and strong in helping them to do that."
Russia's relationship with China
Dr Gould-Davies made note of the effect this war has had on the relationship between Russia and China, spotlighting the two country's leaders meeting prior to the war starting.
"Twenty days before the war started, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin signed an agreement expressing this friendship without limits," he said.
"Since then we've seen China increasingly publicly express its concern and unhappiness with the war.
"For economic reasons but also for political reasons.
"This war has activated the West, it's created this formidable collective western coalition of states, societies and the private sector and for China that sets a very unwelcome president."
Dr Gould-Davies added that the West's backing of Ukraine "surprised Putin".
"It is a development that no-one could have taken for granted, in a sense the West surprised itself, it certainly surprised Putin.
"As long as it remains in force, and as long as cracks don't appear in this Western coalition, it looks set to be a formidable force.
"The West now is 11 times richer than Russia. It is therefore well placed in principle to supply Ukraine with much more support, economic and military than Russia can sustain from its own much more limited and shrinking resources.
"And that could decisively shape the outcome of the war," he added.
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