Former commander of US ground forces in Europe, retired General Ben Hodges reaffirmed his earlier view that Crimea could become the most important battlefield that could finally decide Ukraine’s military confrontation with Russia.
But for this, according to the military, the Armed Forces of Ukraine need long-range missiles, writes Ukrinform.
“ We are going to do everything possible for Ukraine to win this year. It is quite possible, at least, that Ukraine will liberate Crimea before the end of the summer,” Hodges said.
The American military is confident that the Armed Forces of Ukraine should be able to shoot at 150-300 kilometers, and at the same time quite accurately – then the Russian Black Sea Fleet will simply be forced to leave the peninsula.
Hodges called Crimea a “decisive place” while Donbass was simply “important.” He stressed that Ukraine would not be safe and unable to use the port of Mariupol as long as Russia held the peninsula. And even in Odessa there are 140 ships that are waiting for the opportunity to leave the port, but they cannot.
“We must help Ukraine return Crimea. This year. We want this to happen, and we must give everything we need,” Hodges said.
According to him, the rules of the game in the war will change not any specific weapons, tanks or aircraft, but the decision by partners that Ukraine must win. Regarding tanks, he noted that Ukraine has its own, captured from the Russian army, and Western ones. The Armed Forces of Ukraine use this entire tank arsenal very well, which will help to de-occupy Crimea.
Recall that earlier Ben Hodges said that the Russian offensive that had begun would not lead to any significant result, since the occupiers still had many “open questions.”
Source : Telegraf