US Secretary of State says Russian military 'second strongest in Ukraine'

US Secretary of State Blinken said Russia once claimed its military was the second strongest in the world , but now it is "second only to Ukraine".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Helsinki, Finland, on June 2 that the Russian military is in significantly worse shape than before it launched its campaign in Ukraine in February 2022.

"The Kremlin often claims that it has the second-strongest military in the world, and many people believe that. But today, many people believe that the Russian military is only the second-strongest force in Ukraine," Mr. Blinken said.

The US Secretary of State called Russia's campaign in Ukraine a "strategic failure", causing Moscow to lose its military , economic, diplomatic strength and influence for years to come.

According to him, this campaign has caused great losses to the Ukrainian people and army, but the Russian army also paid a heavy price. Even Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the private military corporation Wagner, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly criticized the Russian army for being "weak" and "incompetent" in the campaign in Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Helsinki, Finland, on June 2. Photo: AFP — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Helsinki, Finland, on June 2. Photo: *AFP*

Mr Blinken called for peace between Moscow and Kiev, but said a ceasefire in Ukraine would be inappropriate now, as Russia still controls parts of the east. He said such a ceasefire would legitimise Russia’s control over Ukrainian territory.

Russia has not commented on the US Secretary of State's statement.

The Russia-Ukraine war has lasted for more than a year and shows no signs of abating. In addition to regular forces, Russia has also deployed Wagner fighters to the Ukrainian battlefield.

Wagner Prigozhin said the Ukrainian army is well-organized, well-trained and one of the "strongest in the world". Prigozhin also criticized the Russian defense forces for being "unprepared for any form of combat" after recent attacks on the Russian border province of Belgorod.

Ngoc Anh (According to Business Insider )

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