According to the chief of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, the West was "too optimistic" about the course of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine in 2023.
NATO's top military leader warns the world against a new mistake regarding Ukraine
Rob Bauer admits that the Western partners were convinced that "if we give the Ukrainians the necessary ammunition and training, they will win."
However, these predictions were far from the truth.
We must be careful not to be overly pessimistic in 2024.
Rob Bauer
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee
According to Rob Bauer, the fact that Ukraine is still a sovereign state and that Ukrainians have regained 50% of what the Russians took in 2022 is remarkable.
What is essential to understand is that, in recent weeks, NATO members have increasingly discussed a possible attack by the Russian Federation on the Alliance in private conversations as a danger that requires an immediate response.
Members of the bloc are also worried that the US will abandon its traditional role of protecting Europe as part of NATO.
The EU is discussing "additions" to NATO to protect Europe from Russia
As foreign journalists have learned, the European Union is already discussing the creation of a continental addition to NATO.
It could function alongside US security guarantees, but could also serve as a reliable alternative if US guarantees were revoked.
However, this idea has not won the support of the majority in the EU so far.
Media insiders say that Germany and France cannot agree on who will pay for it.
Brussels also doubts that they can defend themselves against Russia without the help of the United States.
