When will the Ukraine war end?

German army chief fears - "What should peace with Putin look like"

Created: 08/03/2022 05:42

By: Patrick Mayer

Michael Schöllhorn, President BDLI, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Pilot Captain Maximilian Walter and Inspector of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz (from left) in front of a Bundeswehr helicopter NH90.

© IMAGO/Arnulf Hettrich

The top general of the German Bundeswehr does not expect the Russia-Ukraine war to end any time soon.

Instead, he worries about the "Putin system."

And not only because of that.

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The Inspector of the German Army, Alfons Mais, does not believe in a quick military decision between the conflicting parties.

Despite heavy losses on both sides.

And not just in Donbass, which is still heavily contested.

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"Militarily, I fear the war will last a long time - possibly freezing in the meantime," said Mais

: "Personally, I often ask myself how peace with the Putin system

.) is supposed to be at all look."

In any case, for him there could only be the perspective of a "completely restored territorial integrity of the UN member Ukraine".

However, Mais assessed the possibilities of further deliveries of weapons from Bundeswehr stocks to Kyiv as limited.

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"In terms of military support, I think it's crucial that we keep a certain balance," explained the army inspector: "I have to make sure that the army is able to fulfill our core tasks - the defense of the country and the allies.

And that's difficult enough under the current conditions." The lieutenant general continued in an interview with

: "Wherever we still had and still have air, we were able to give it to the Ukraine.

In my opinion, however, a limit has been reached when areas are affected where we do not have a surplus of material ourselves.”

Ukraine war: Mais calls for quick solutions for the Bundeswehr

Only on Monday (August 1) did three Mars II multiple rocket launchers arrive in Ukraine from Germany.

The traffic light federal government made up of SPD, Greens and FDP had already handed over anti-aircraft vehicles of the Gepard type and several heavy artillery pieces of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 type to Kyiv.

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Personally, I often ask myself how peace with the Putin system should look like.

Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, Bundeswehr

With regard to the operational capability of the German armed forces, Mais sees a considerable need for reform - as before.

"We have far too long lead times," he said.

This is also due to "the fact that there is not enough material and the little that is then due to centralization lies under different responsibilities in different places".

When procuring the main weapon systems, it is important to focus on what is “absolutely necessary” and to find solutions that are available on the market.

"We can't afford lengthy development solutions in every case," explained Mais.

At least things went faster on the Baltic Sea: On Monday (August 1st) the purchase of the MV shipyards in Rostock by the German Navy became known.

In future, the Bundeswehr wants to maintain and repair its frigates and corvettes more easily and more effectively in the district of Warnemünde, within sight of the "Hohe Düne" base.