How Ukraine could win the war: expert suggests strategy

Created: 05/08/2022 05:13

By: Nadja Austel

A military expert makes suggestions on how Ukraine, under attack by Russia, could successfully fight the war.

Kyiv – The West must pursue a common strategy to strengthen Ukraine in the war against Russia – and not just by supplying arms.

Ex-US Major General Mike Repass stated this in an interview with the TV channel CNN.

Overall, NATO is acting too slowly and is also not taking all the necessary steps to enable Ukraine's military success.

Repass, former commander of the US Special Forces Command Europe, worked as an advisor and trainer for the Ukrainian armed forces until January 2022.

Ukraine's victory, Repass said in an interview with CNN, is the only result of this war that Russia cannot claim as a victory.

The current situation, however, gives rise to fears that the Ukraine war will last one to two years and that none of the countries will emerge as clearly superior. 

Such an end, namely one in a stalemate, would end with the occupation of Ukrainian lands.

From the Russian point of view, that would be at least a partial success.

And it cannot be assumed, according to Repass, that Russia would be content with attacking Ukraine.

Ex-Major General Repass proposes that Ukrainian soldiers be trained in the West.

(Iconic image) © dpa/Ukrinform

Ukraine war: Russia finds other states "illegitimate"

Before the war began, Vladimir Putin's spokesman had announced that the country was not recognized by Russia as a legitimate state.

It is historically and still part of Russia, the statement said.

Repass now warns that Putin's spokesman said exactly the same thing about the Baltic states.

There is therefore no reason to believe that after Ukraine, Russia will stop at other "illegitimate" states.

A stalemate does not seem unlikely in the current situation.

According to analysts, the Russian armed forces are still not gaining air superiority in eastern Ukraine.

According to experts, the fact that Russia was unable to overwhelm the Ukrainian air force is due to a lack of organization and operational incompetence.

The failed attempt to take Kyiv also suggests overconfidence on the Russian side.

Since then, Russian troops have concentrated on the front in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Kiev's armed forces are apparently preparing for the next counterattack.

A clear superiority of one of the warring parties is not yet foreseeable.

War in Ukraine: Four steps the West must take

Repass told CNN there are four steps the West must now take to eliminate the risk posed by Russia.

First, Russia must be weakened by strengthening Ukrainian resources.

Second, Russia must be deterred by expanding NATO resources.

Third, the Russian military must be weakened.

And finally, it must be ensured that the Ukrainian armed forces can win the war against Russia.

In addition to equipment, Ukraine needs one thing above all, namely additional, capable armed forces.

It takes about 40,000 soldiers capable of launching offensive strikes against the Russian occupiers in order to "drive them out of their country".

The West can provide support and train Ukrainian soldiers accordingly.

The USA, France, Poland, Great Britain and Germany could each take over a brigade of the armed forces.

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