Defeat for Putin?

Ex-Merkel advisor explains chance for Ukraine - "Then he will be the loser"

Created: 07/03/2022 22:53

By: Patrick Mayer

Ukraine debate in “hard but fair”: former Brigadier General Erich Vad (right), former security policy adviser to Angela Merkel.

© screenshot ARD

Is a military defeat for Vladimir Putin in the Russia-Ukraine war possible?

A former adviser to Angela Merkel thinks so.

He gives his reasons for “hard but fair” on ARD.

Munich/Berlin/Kyiv - Is there a Russian Ukraine fiasco?

Does Moscow's ruler Vladimir Putin have to admit defeat militarily?

"A long war would break his neck politically," is at least the thesis of former Bundeswehr Brigadier General Erich Vad.

Chance for Ukraine against Russia?

Former Merkel advisor explains scenario in "hard but fair"

On Monday evening (March 7), the former security policy adviser to ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) said on “hard but fair” on ARD: “If he goes into a long-lasting war, if Ukraine starts the war from Kyiv and the Pulling the east of the country into the west, and that becomes a never-ending story, then he will end up being the loser.” Vad, who was also on the command staff of the German armed forces, justified an opportunity for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia* with examples from history.

“We have umpteen examples: it started with Vietnam, with Iraq, with Afghanistan – the Russians were there for eight years too.

And are ultimately bled dry.

And NATO, or the international community of more than 50 states, was also defeated in the end in Afghanistan by Taliban fighters in sneakers and with Kalashnikovs and little equipment," explained Vad on ARD: "That can happen if the Russians Don't finish this as quickly as possible.” The former Bundeswehr brigadier general also analyzed the alleged tactics of Russian President Putin.

Chance for Ukraine against Russia?

“He basically has to depose the government in Kyiv”

“He basically has to depose the government in Kyiv, from a Russian point of view.

He has to neutralize the general staff, the intelligence center.

That's all that's going to happen in the next few days.

The Russians are preparing for this, as are the Ukrainians.

(Volodymyr) Zelenskyi clearly said that he would stay in Kyiv," said Vad.

They will fight this battle in and for Kyiv.

Former Bundeswehr Brigadier General Erich Vad on the Ukraine

He continued: "Then the whole thing will now be carried out militarily, with a focus on the south-east of Ukraine.

Kyiv has a high symbolic importance.

Ukraine will tie their bravery to this, and their courage to hold their ground in the face of overwhelming odds.

And they will fight this fight in and for Kyiv.”

Chance for Ukraine against Russia?

Bundeswehr general expects heavy fighting around Kyiv

The Russian troops are now in the suburbs of the Ukrainian capital, "and I think that will now be carried out in the greater Kyiv area, primarily.

The Ukrainians are withdrawing forces from the southeast, concentrating that, but also weakening their other front sections," said the former soldier at "hard but fair": "And we'll see how the whole thing turns out."

The background to Vads' examples: the USA once had to leave Vietnam after heavy military losses (1955 to 1975) in the so-called proxy conflicts in the Cold War with the Soviet Union, a military intervention by the Soviets in Afghanistan (from December 1979) again ended bloodily for the Russians and their then allies.

And this time? 

In the video: Compact - The news about the Ukraine war and the invasion of Russia

According to Ukrainian authorities, thousands of Russian soldiers are said to have fallen in the first days of the Russia-Ukraine War*.

The US Department of Defense told journalists on Monday that all deployed Russian troops are now in Ukraine - that's 150,000 soldiers.

*