Former NATO commander calls for more weapons for Ukraine to attack Crimea

Former NATO commander in Europe Philip Breedlove (Photo: Getty).

"If we allow Ukraine to attack Crimea — comprehensively, consistently and precisely — Russia will be forced to rethink its position in the region," former NATO commander in Europe Philip Breedlove said in an article published in The Hill on January 17.

“Hit them all, hit them all, hit them all, and take them out,” the retired NATO general added.

A colleague of General Breedlove's, Ben Hodges, the former commander of the US Army in Europe, agreed that the Crimean peninsula represented "the decisive battleground of the war".

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last weekend, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that despite the failure of Kiev's summer offensive, reaching the 1991 border remains Kiev's "strategic goal." That means retaking Crimea, the port city of Sevastopol and several other areas under Russian control.

In an interview with The Economist earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the isolation of Crimea as a “very important” goal for Kiev, and expressed confidence that the Ukrainian armed forces would achieve this goal by 2024.

Mr. Zelensky also revealed that Kiev will focus special attention on the Kerch bridge, connecting Crimea to mainland Russia. Accordingly, President Zelensky once again called on Germany to provide Taurus long-range cruise missiles.

In recent months, Ukraine has launched dozens of attacks on the Crimean peninsula, using sea and air drones as well as various types of missiles.

In early January, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that its air defense systems had intercepted 36 Ukrainian drones as well as 10 missiles flying over Crimea, including some Storm Shadows supplied by the UK.

In late December last year, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that a Ukrainian missile attack damaged the Russian Navy's large landing ship Novocherkassk while it was anchored at the port in the city of Feodosia, Crimea.

Kiev's aim is to isolate the peninsula, making it difficult for Russia to maintain military operations on the Ukrainian mainland.

Crimea is a peninsula with a strategic position on the Black Sea. From Crimea, Russia has controlled a large area of territory in southern Ukraine. Crimea still serves as a base from which Russia deploys aircraft and warships close to Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly warned Ukraine of dire consequences if it tries to regain control of Crimea.

The future status of the peninsula is expected to be a key issue in any deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Moscow demands that Ukraine recognise the “new territorial reality”, meaning acknowledging Russia’s control over Crimea and the territories annexed by Russia last September as a condition for peace.

Meanwhile, Kiev has ruled out any peace talks with Moscow until Russia withdraws all its troops from territories claimed by Ukraine, including Crimea.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/cuu-tu-lenh-nato-keu-goi-cap-them-vu-khi-cho-ukraine-tan-cong-crimea-20240119015757514.htm