Russia's victories have shaken world leaders' faith in the prospects of war in Ukraine. The Financial Times writes about this following the results of the Munich Security Conference.

The publication notes that a year ago, the conference participants "radiated optimism about Ukraine's prospects." But this year, "as the conflict has tilted in Moscow's favor and faith in Western support has faded, that optimism was replaced by unrelenting despair."

"Last year was very complacent, when so much hope was pinned on a Ukrainian counteroffensive," said Heather Conley, chair of the German Marshall Fund. This year, the outlook is gloomier as Russia rebuilds its military and shifts to a military economy.

"We will see Ukraine suffer losses on the battlefield, we will see significant Russian successes, and the Ukrainians will run out of ammunition," Conley predicted.

Admiral Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO's military committee, admitted that the West was "overly optimistic about the war in 2023," believing that "if we give the Ukrainians the munitions and training they need, they will win."  Now, he added, "we have to be careful not to be too pessimistic in 2024."

"The fact that Ukraine is still a sovereign state and that the Ukrainians have returned 50 percent of what the Russians took in 2022 is remarkable," he said.

Disputes about how to fill the shortage of weapons in Ukraine prevailed in Munich.

"Russia has learned a lot of lessons, it also produces more ammunition and equipment than we can all provide together," said Petr Pavel, Czech president.

"The problem is that America does not produce enough weapons, Europe does not produce enough weapons, and that's much more important than the political will of the United States or how much money we print and send to Europe," assessed the situation Trumpist Senator J.D. Vance.