A former US lieutenant general makes sobering conclusions about the war in Ukraine. The expert demands that Western countries provide Ukraine with urgently needed combat equipment.
Kyiv/London – Despite various difficulties, the Ukrainian military continues its counteroffensive. A report by the Royal United Kingdom Institute for Defense and Security Studies, a British think tank, says Western leaders hesitated too long to send major weapons ahead of a counter-attack. “If the decision to prepare and train the Ukrainian armed forces had been made and implemented at the time of the autumn needs assessment, it would have been much easier for Ukraine to recapture its territory,” British experts say.
Ukraine lacks superior artillery and air superiority
US military experts have taken a sobering stance on the war in Ukraine. “The Ukrainian counteroffensive faces the most difficult tactical challenge imaginable,” retired US Army Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute said in an interview with the Georgian Service. Voice of America. Ukrainian soldiers must fight their way through obstacles such as landmines, trenches and tank traps, as well as Russian attack helicopters. “An American unit can only handle this mission if it has superior artillery, which the Ukrainians do not have.” The Ukrainians would also lack air superiority, which is crucial in such an attempt. Not even American soldiers would try.
The progress of the war in Ukraine was slow and with casualties
“So we have to have realistic expectations, realistic in the sense that this progress will be slow, but realistic in the sense that there will be casualties on the Ukrainian side because they don’t have all the capabilities they need,” Lute said. Ukraine used Western weapons only to defend its territory and not to attack Russian territory. “There is no military logic in losing the capabilities to fight against Ukraine,” said a former lieutenant general who called for an attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet stationed in Crimea.
“This navy is re-arming, going into the Black Sea and launching cruise missiles at Ukrainian civilian targets. This cannot be allowed, it is a violation of international law. However, we have so far denied Ukraine the opportunity to strike a blow that deters Russia from shelling (from the Black Sea). To win the war against Russia. No way for Ukraine.
Therefore, Ukraine urgently needs the necessary military equipment. In addition to armored vehicles, artillery systems and munitions, long-range precision strike systems such as the US ATACMS. Also, the country needs F-16 fighter jets.
Ukraine War: Is Putin Playing for Time?
In the interview, the military expert believes that Vladimir Putin is playing for time. He believes the West will allow itself to be distracted by political events in the West, such as next year’s US presidential campaign. However, the NATO summit in Vilnius showed that the West wants to double military support for Ukraine “so that the war does not lead to a frozen conflict, but to the defeat of Russia”.
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