The Russian offensive has already begun and time is working in its favour, Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk estimates in an interview with PAP. Now is the time to make decisions and quickly deliver weapons to Ukraine, he stressed.
The Russian offensive has practically already begun and in this case time is working in its favour, so there is no time for further digressions. Now is the time to make decisions and deliver weapons quickly
– told PAP the deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Armament supplies
He noted that if the weapons are really going to help Ukraine, they must be delivered quickly.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed EU leaders gathered at the European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday: “This aggression must be defeated as soon as possible. (…) Thank you for your understanding and support. That you understand how much we artillery, ammunition, tanks, long-range missiles and modern fighters.”
We are very grateful for this military support. We must increase the dynamics of our cooperation. We must do it faster than the aggressor trying to mobilize its potential
– appealed against the President of Ukraine.
Commenting on this speech, Deputy Minister Wawrzyk expressed hope that it will encourage countries that have been skeptical so far to provide more aid to Ukraine.
These symbolic words spoken by President Zelensky in Brussels and throughout his trip should convince those who have hitherto been reluctant to provide extensive aid to Ukraine.
– added.
The Ukrainian president visited London and Paris on Wednesday.
According to Wawrzyk, “the British statement about the planes was very telling”. According to him, “the question of aircraft for Ukraine and long-range artillery are now the main elements of the talks.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that the training of Ukrainian troops in this country will also include fighter jet pilots. He added that “nothing is beyond discussion” and that fighter jets are one of the subjects of talks about further support to Ukraine.
Wawrzyk, when asked if Poland could be the next place of the Ukrainian leader’s visit, replied that “this is a point for further talks”.
At a meeting in Brussels, EU leaders discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine, economic issues and migration.
Psychological effect
Instead of gradually supplying Ukraine with more weapons and military equipment to support its fight against Russia, NATO should trigger a “big bang” and announce the transfer of all military aid on February 24, 2023, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion . This would strengthen the Kremlin’s belief that Moscow is fighting against a well-armed alliance, Michael McFaul, a political scientist and former US ambassador to Russia, told Foreign Affairs magazine.
Such a statement would have an important psychological effect in the Kremlin and in Russian society, indicating the West’s determination to return all occupied territories to Ukraine, argues McFaul in the article “How to make a breakthrough in Ukraine”.
In order to end the war, he said, Western military equipment of the best quality should be transferred to Ukraine as soon as possible, further targeted sanctions against Russia should be introduced, and investments should be made in the media whose pro-Western message is “souls and souls”. hearts” of Russian citizens. The final stage of strengthening Ukraine and weakening Russia would be the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Kiev.
Russian possessions
The obvious starting point is the transfer of more than $300 billion from the Russian central bank’s reserves, now frozen by the West, to the government of Ukraine. In countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, state property has been legally frozen in the past, and should be done now
says the American political scientist.
As McFaul points out, while Russian President Vladimir Putin must have understood by now that the Ukrainians intend to fight until their country is completely liberated from Russian occupation, the Russian leader still believes that time is in his favor and expects that help the West’s interest in Ukraine.
As Russia begins to win on the battlefield or fight to a stalemate, few will remember US President Joe Biden’s outstanding leadership in strengthening global aid to Ukraine in 2022. So Western leaders must now change their approach to the conflict (…). In 2023, the United States, NATO and the democratic world should support breakthrough (in battle) on a larger scale. This means more weapons, more sanctions against Russia and more economic support for Ukraine
exclaims the former ambassador.
Ultimately, the West will be judged by what happened in the last year of the war, not the first
McFaul writes in Foreign Affairs.
Artillery on the battlefield
According to the political scientist, Ukraine needs more HIMARS rocket artillery systems and GMLR missiles, which have proven their effectiveness on the battlefield. If it is not possible to transfer HIMARS, the US – in the opinion of the US researcher – should send MLRS several missile launchers; “The more ammunition hanging around, the better.” The author of the article argues that the number of tanks for Ukraine announced by the Western coalition in January is significant, but more needs to be sent and Ukraine could also make good use of several hundred infantry fighting vehicles. In addition, Patriot batteries, NASAMS and other air defense systems are required.
In addition to more weapons, the United States and its allies should increase the value of the weapons they supply. At the top of the list should be the ATACMS surface-to-surface missile system. It fires missiles that can cover a distance of about 320 km, allowing Ukrainian forces to attack Russian airfields and weapons depots in Crimea and other places currently out of their reach, and to harbor Russian soldiers using long-range weapons to to fall on Ukrainian cities
says the author.
In addition, Ukraine’s air offensive capabilities should be strengthened through the transfer of Soviet MiG-29 fighters and advanced drones, such as the American Gray Eagle and Reaper drones, and Ukrainian pilots should begin training in the use of F-16 fighters , which the MiG-29 later in the war says McFaul.
Putin in a dead end alley
After the West handed over key defense systems to Ukraine to support its defense efforts, the conflict with Russia has not yet spread to other countries, the reason being simple: Putin has no option for escalation, the political scientist said. As he stressed, Russia already uses very expensive cruise missiles to attack residential buildings. It cannot attack NATO countries or risk spreading a war that Russia would soon lose. For Putin, according to the researcher, the only option left is the nuclear option, “but even that would not serve him well.”
Everyone will agree that a nuclear attack on the United States or other NATO countries is out of the question because the MAD doctrine, or mutually assured destruction, still applies. The likelihood that Putin will use tactical nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory is also very small, as it would serve no objective purpose. It would not stop the Ukrainians from resisting. On the contrary: they would recommit themselves to defeating Russia and carry out more attacks, including covert operations against targets in Russia
writes McFaul.
As the State Department predicts, the use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would also lead to increased opposition to the war around the world, including in Beijing and among the Russian public.
Of course, the Ukrainians would suffer most from such an attack, but they are the ones calling on the West not to be discouraged by Putin’s nuclear blackmail.
– emphasizes the American political scientist.
“Standoff” on the battlefield is a euphemism for further death and destruction. These are the costs of the small steps method
says McFaul.
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Source: wPolityce