On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the head of the German Defense Ministry, Boris Pistorius, called on Western countries to prepare for decades of difficult confrontation with Russia.
Pistorius predicts a long confrontation between the West and Russia
Among other things, Pistorius said that the murder of opposition Russian politician Alexei Navalny confirmed his worst fears about the Kremlin regime.
The head of the German Defense Ministry stressed that Western countries need to prepare for a multi-year conflict with Russia, as the Kremlin seeks to restore dominance in Eastern and Central Europe.
Unfortunately, we will have to live with the dividing lines in Europe in the coming decades: free and democratic Europe on one side, authoritarian and bellicose Russia on the other. Effective deterrence is our life insurance
At the same time, Pistorius urged European partners to look for allies in other regions of the world, in particular, among African countries, even if they do not meet the standards of Western countries.
The head of the German Defense Ministry also declared readiness to send more military advisers to African countries.
Such closer cooperation would mean that we have come down from heaven to earth. This is what I mean when I talk about leaving the comfort zone, - Pistorius notes.
How Ukraine can turn into Vietnam for Putin
Business Insider journalists, referring to analysts, point out that the criminal war launched by the Kremlin against Ukraine can become a personal "Vietnam" for Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin.
We have seen smaller countries often win battles over larger countries, Vietnam being a key example. And I think that this is an absolutely correct view of this war, - says Max Bergmann, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies CSIS.
The authors of the publication remind that during the war in Vietnam, more than 58,000 American soldiers died, who, together with South Vietnam, opposed the communists from North Vietnam.
I don't see the Ukrainians surrendering, because for them this is an existential war. This is not an existential war for Russia, - emphasizes Eliot A. Cohen, head of strategy at CSIS Arlie A. Burke.
According to analysts, with strong Western support, Ukraine could achieve significant success and undermine the morale of the occupying Russian army, forcing the Kremlin to reconsider its own benefits from this war.
It is recalled that the US Congress is currently debating a $60 billion aid package that could prove decisive in determining the course of the war.
If this funding is accepted, I have no doubt that Ukraine will be able to completely repel the Russian offensive in 2024. In fact, I would be very optimistic about the potential of Ukraine in 2025, - notes Max Bergmann
