Lieutenant General Ben Goges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, agrees with British military intelligence and a number of Western analysts that russia's offensive in Donbass has lost momentum and is unlikely to accelerate significantly under the current conditions.
He said this in an interview with Voice of America.
Godges also noted that russia had made big statements about certain "victories" by certain dates, but it had not achieved any such goal. The general is confident that by the end of the summer the occupying forces will be exhausted and Ukraine will be able to displace them.
"Russia has nothing to celebrate. They have not been able to achieve all their goals. The Ministry of Defense has shown itself to be a corrupt institution and its soldiers to have been assassins who use weapons against civilian objects. in Bucha. That's why I don't think they have anything to celebrate, "he said.
"It is clear that they have seized territory, causing great damage to Ukraine's economy. They are blocking grain exports. There are still many challenges ahead, but none of this can be called a victory for russia, given the Kremlin's goals. Frankly, I I don't think russia can continue to do what it does indefinitely. I think the culmination will be at the end of the summer, when they will run out of people, ammunition and the will to fight, "Godges added.
He also noted that putin's threats to use nuclear weapons should be taken seriously, but he himself did not believe it. Godges also stressed that the partners need to continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine to fight the aggressor.
"But he (putin) will not just give up, he will not say, 'I was wrong, so I will go.' providing Ukraine with the help and resources it needs," Godges said.
In March, Godges noted that after russia's blitzkrieg failed, the occupiers changed tactics - now they are simply destroying Ukrainian cities. He also said that such a war "requires at least three components": unlimited time, unlimited ammunition and unlimited human resources. putin has none. According to Godges, Ukrainians would not be hindered by several symbolic victories, such as the "damn cities" across the Kerch Strait.
In an interview with LB.ua in 2020, Godges said that Ukraine should not allow the entry of russian troops into belarus.
Goges suggested that russia could seize the dam in Kherson to allow water to return to Crimea. According to him, the peninsula is very important for moscow, because it is from the ports of the occupied Crimea that russian ships depart in support of criminal regimes in Syria and Libya. According to Godges, the next aggressive step of the russian federation may be Odesa.
Earlier, he also said that the only way to prevent a new russian invasion of Ukraine is to demonstrate its readiness for such a scenario so that everyone realizes that Ukraine is capable of resistance.