‘Just a matter of time’ before Ukraine is conquered

United States Studies Centre CEO Simon Jackman says he believes it's “just a matter of time” before Ukraine is conquered by Russia.

Mr Jackman’s remarks come as a Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told reporters Belarusian forces could be deployed into Ukraine as early as tomorrow.

“I’m probably of the school of thought it’s just a matter of time,” he told Sky News Australia.

“The sheer force of numbers is pressing down and yet to press down on Ukraine.

“As more and more Russian troops make their way in, as Ukrainians wear down their inventory, is the west able to supply them with new munitions, with food, with all the things that militaries need.”

Mr Jackman said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “encirclement” strategy, by rising from the south and advancing on multiple axes, was essentially “dividing and conquering” Ukraine.

“I’m afraid for that scenario to play out, and, of course, the more troubling potential development is that troops from Belarus might be adding their weight to the forces bearing down on Ukraine,” he said.

“In a part of the country where the possibility for intercepting at least sort of road resupply from the west could become an issue as well.”