Ukraine is under immense pressure ahead of its upcoming counteroffensive, as there are significant risks if Kyiv fails to achieve significant progress against entrenched Russian forces.

A lackluster outcome could damage Ukraine's international support, embolden critics of ongoing military assistance, and ultimately favor Russia.

Ukraine has already received nearly all the pledged military aid from Western allies, including main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, which intensifies the global expectations for Ukrainian success.

However, victory is far from guaranteed.

"There are instances when war is marketed like a consumer product, creating a lot of hype and hope," remarked Bill Astore, a retired U.S. Air Force veteran and senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network. "This contradicts the often-seen reality."

For months, Ukraine and its allies have been promoting the superiority of Western armor, such as Germany's Leopard tanks and American-made Stryker vehicles, claiming they will turn the tide in Ukraine's favor.

Nevertheless, Russian forces are deeply entrenched along the 600-mile front line in eastern Ukraine, and Kyiv will not benefit from the element of surprise that aided its successful counteroffensives in the Kherson and Kharkov regions last year.

Simultaneously, this counteroffensive, anticipated to continue until late fall, represents Ukraine's sole opportunity this year to demonstrate its capabilities, according to military analysts.