LONDON, March 28. /TASS/. Western leaders are bracing for the Ukrainian army’s collapse as it has only been able to slow the advance of Russian forces amid weapons and ammunition shortages, the Times writes.

In its editorial, titled "It’s time we talked about the fall of Kiev," the paper points out that "contrary to the predominant view that this is a perpetual ‘frozen conflict,’ with neither side able to win a decisive advantage, the front line is bitterly contested and there is a real risk of Ukrainian forces being pushed back." "This is the nightmare scenario now being contemplated by western policymakers," the Times notes.

Russia’s advance "would obviously be disastrous for the Ukrainians." "It would also confront the West with all manner of tough challenges," the newspaper says. "The consequences of a partial or complete defeat would be calamitous in ways western populations have barely begun to understand. But we have a lazy habit in the comfortable West - away from Europe’s front line in east and south Ukraine - of wishful thinking and being unprepared for bad surprises," the Times emphasizes.

A poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations, which was conducted in 12 countries in January, showed that only 10% of those surveyed believe that Ukraine can win. About 37% of the poll’s participants said that compromise was the most likely option, while another 19.5% said that Russia would eventually achieve a victory.