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 on June 2 in Helsinki, Finland, that the Russian military is significantly worse than it was before the operation in Ukraine in February 6.
“The Kremlin often claims it has the second strongest military in the world and many people believe it. But now, many people think that the Russian military is only the second most powerful force in Ukraine," Blinken said.
The US secretary of state called Russia's campaign in Ukraine a "strategic failure" that would reduce Moscow's military, economic, diplomatic power and influence for years to come.
According to him, this operation has caused great losses to the people and army of Ukraine, but the Russian military also has to pay a heavy price. Even Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private military group, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly criticized the Russian military as "weak" and "incompetent" in the operation in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Helsinki, Finland, on June 2. Image: AFP
Blinken called for peace between Moscow and Kiev, but said a ceasefire in Ukraine now was inappropriate, as Russia still controls parts of the east. He argued that such a ceasefire would legitimize Russia's control of Ukrainian territory.
Russia has not commented on the US Secretary of State's statement.
The war between Russia and Ukraine lasted for more than a year and still shows no sign of abating. In addition to regular forces, Russia also deployed Wagner fighters to the Ukrainian battlefield.
Boss Wagner Prigozhin said the Ukrainian soldiers were well organized, well-trained and one of the "strongest in the world". Prigozhin also criticized the Russian self-defense forces as "not ready to fight in any way" following recent attacks on the Russian border province of Belgorod.
Ngoc Anh (Follow Business Insider)
