Former NATO No. 2: Ukraine must fight like it's 1918
Sir Richard Shirreff, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, says the front in Ukraine is stuck in 1917-style trench warfare and the solution was invented in 1918.
Sir Richard Shirreff, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander (the second‑highest military position in the alliance), has argued that the current situation on the front line in Ukraine is reminiscent of 1917 – a static trench war where neither side can achieve a decisive breakthrough. According to him, the way out of this deadlock was already discovered a year later, in 1918, when new combined‑arms tactics were introduced during World War I.
Shirreff emphasized that Ukraine should learn from history and apply the tactical innovations of 1918 to break the current stalemate. He noted that the prolonged positional warfare is exhausting for both sides and does not lead to a quick resolution.
His analysis highlights the need for a fresh approach on the battlefield that could alter the current military situation. However, he did not specify exactly how those historical lessons could be adapted to modern conditions.
