Russia's Military Is 'Second-Strongest In Ukraine', Blinken Says

Washington D.C./03.06.23/Turan:   Top U.S. diplomat on Friday referred to Russia's military as "the second strongest in Ukraine" in terms of its capabilities, TURAN's Washington correspondent  reports.

The Kremlin in the past claimed that Russia had "the second strongest military in the world", however as Secretary of State Antony Blinken put in, "today, many see Russia's military as the second strongest in Ukraine - its equipment, technology, leadership, troops, strategy, tactics and morale."

In his speech in Helsinki, Blinken recalled the origins of Russia's brutal but faltering war against Ukraine and made long-term policy recommendations for free nations: isolate and weaken Russia politically and economically; and support Ukraine for years, including through help for Ukraine's high-end military modernization, post-war reconstruction, and systemic transformation.

He also warned against a “Potemkin peace” in Ukraine that would come from a ceasefire in the coming months, saying such a move “would legitimize Russia’s land grab” and “reward the aggressor and punish the victim.”

He went on to add, "Now, some have argued that if the United States truly wanted peace, we’d stop supporting Ukraine, and then if Ukraine truly wanted to end the war, it would just cut its losses and give up the fifth of its territory that Russia illegally occupies.  Let’s play this out for a minute.  What neighbors of Russia would feel confident in their own sovereignty and territorial integrity if Putin’s aggression were to be rewarded with a fifth of Ukraine’s territory?"

Blinken continued: "And for that matter, how would any country that lives near a bully, with a history of threats and aggression, feel secure within its own borders?   What lesson will other would-be aggressors around the world learn if Putin is allowed to violate a core tenet of the UN Charter with impunity? And how often in history have aggressors who seized all or part of a neighboring country been satisfied and stopped there?  When has that ever satisfied Vladimir Putin?"

The Secretary also referred to Putin's constant claims that the U.S. Europe, and countries that support Ukraine are bent on defeating or destroying Russia, on toppling its government, on holding back its people. "That is false," he said. "We do not seek the overthrow of the Russian Government and we never have.  Russia’s future is for Russians to decide."

He added: "Let me say this directly to the Russian people:  The United States is not your enemy. At the peaceful end of the Cold War, we shared the hope that Russia would emerge to a brighter future, free and open, fully integrated with the world. For more than 30 years, we worked to pursue stable and cooperative relations with Moscow, because we believed that a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Russia is in America’s interests – indeed, in the interests of the world.  We still believe that today. We cannot choose your future for you, and we won’t try to do so. But we also will not let President Putin impose his will on other nations. Moscow must treat the independence, the sovereignty, the territorial integrity of its neighbors with the same respect that it demands for Russia."

That also means Ukraine’s membership in NATO will be a matter for Allies and Ukraine – not Russia – to decide, Blinken continued.  "The path to peace will be forged not only through Ukraine’s long-term military strength, but also the strength of its economy and its democracy. This is at the heart of our vision for the way forward:  Ukraine must not only survive, it must thrive.  To be strong enough to deter and defend against aggressors beyond its borders, Ukraine needs a vibrant, prosperous democracy within its borders. That’s the path the Ukrainian people voted for when they won their independence in 1991."

Alex Raufoglu