With Sufficient Long-Range Precision Weapons Ukraine Will Accelerate its Victory

In an exclusive interview for Kyiv Post, Tatiana Popova discusses the current status of Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the general outlook, with General Ben Hodges, the former US military commander in Europe.

The top military expert is confident that Russia’s superiority in numbers does not mean that it can defeat Ukraine. Its criminal war is being waged in a wasteful and not particularly effective manner. Resorting to nuclear weapons makes no sense for Moscow. Looking ahead, tanks to be supplied by Ukraine’s Western supporters will help the Ukrainian forces penetrate Russian defenses later this year.

Ukraine’s air has been “incredible” and Russia’s failure to achieve air superiority has been a major surprise. What Ukraine needs now are long range-precision capabilities to liberate Crimea, the “decisive” terrain. This will have profound repercussion in Russia. Ukraine needs to recover its territory, modernize and build up its forces, eradicate corruption at home, and conclude firm security agreements with the US, it western neighbors and others.