Former CIA Chief Says ‘The Invasion of Ukraine Backfired’

He was the former manager of CIA (CIA) David Petraeus claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Efforts to Make Russia Great Again via Invasion of Ukraine they were “backfire”.

In an interview with DW, the retired US Army general estimated that the Russian forces did not succeed “In nearly every conceivable area” Since the start of the war on February 24.

“For starters, they did not have a competent campaign plan. They attacked in five or six different locations. Their logistics proved to be very poor. The training level of lower-ranking soldiers and commanders is clearly insufficient.”Criticizes.

After failing to capture any of the major Ukrainian cities, the Moscow government was forced to withdraw from the area around Kiev and refocus on the breakaway regions to the east. While much of the strategic southern port of Mariupol is under Russian control, the city’s last pocket of resistance, the Azovstal steel mill, remained.

NATO

Because of the invasion, the United States, European Union (EU) and other countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and increased defense investment. Sweden and Finland They are considering joining NATO, which would bring the military alliance to 32 members. A decision should be made later this month.

“Another result of Putin’s efforts to make Russia great again is backfiring and making NATO great again.”Petraeus says, noting that the alliance has come under great pressure during Donald Trump’s presidency.

Moscow warned for “Serious consequences” It stated that it could deploy nuclear weapons in the European enclave of Kaliningrad if Sweden and Finland decided to join NATO. Petraeus says it is necessary to worry about a possible response from Russia, but he also draws attention to the quality of forces in the Western military alliance.

First of all, these are highly efficient forces. They worked with me in Afghanistan. They were very qualified, very professional and well equipped. And they worked very well with the international forces.”

Military expenses

After the start of the war, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Schulz announced, announced 100 billion euros (532 billion R$) to fund the German Armed Forces and is committed to increasing military spending to more than 2% of GDP.

“Let me just note how extraordinary the decisions made by the relatively new chancellor and the new government are,” Petraeus says, describing the increase in Bundeswehr funding as a “very wise compromise.”

It also evaluates how “very important” Berlin decision “To provide another country with military supplies and lethal weapons systems for the first time in the history of Germany after World War II”.

Petraeus was responsible for the largest NATO mission Germany had ever participated in in Afghanistan. He was also a prominent military and intelligence figure in several American governments that were trying, with very moderate success, to encourage Germany to increase its military spending and consider a more active military role in the twenty-first century.

Germany, which has faced criticism for being slow to back Kyiv with arms, agreed last week to send the arms strong weapons to Ukraine. The country will send howitzers, as well as Gibbard anti-aircraft tanks and other equipment that it has already agreed to supply to Ukraine.

Moscow plans

Petraeus also comments on predictions that Moscow may be planning to declare a victory or expand the war on May 9, the so-called Victory Daya major Russian holiday marking the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.

“There are reports that the Russians, at least, are considering some kind of declaration of general mobilization, where the country would come out of a “special military operation,” as they call it, to launch a third world war, or something like that, to try to rally Russian popular support “Petraeus highlights.

It is believed that it is unlikely that Putin is planning to use nuclear or chemical weapons. Petraeus also expressed doubts about the theory that Russia could use May 9 to launch an attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. You can never take anything off the table when it comes to Vladimir Putin. But again, I don’t think that’s very likely.”confirms.

The United Nations says it has recorded 3,200 civilian deaths in the war so far and warns that the true number is likely to be much higher. The West accuses Russia of war crimes, a charge Moscow denies.

Asked whether the West should support truce talks with Putin after he was accused of atrocities, Petraeus said this was something the Ukrainian leadership had to decide.

“We must follow in President Zelensky’s footsteps, and if he and his people are willing to negotiate, then obviously I think it’s time to cooperate with him on this.”Confirms. “After all, it is his country that suffers from the destructive power of Russia.”

He also says it’s important to keep in mind that Vladimir Putin wants to negotiate, not necessarily because of Russian military losses on the battlefield, but in the hope of easing sanctions on its economy, its financial system, the people around it, and at the price paid. . by the business community.

Interviewed by Ennis Paul, DW’s Washington correspondent.

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