/>
The West is saying that the next few months will determine Ukraine's war with Russia. Former commander of US forces in Europe, General Ben Hodges called the battle in which Ukraine must win in order to feel safe.
Ben Hodges believes that the fight for Crimea will be key in Russia's war against Ukraine . According to him, Ukraine will not be safe while the Russian military is on the Crimean peninsula
Hodges said that Ukraine should de-occupy Crimea
The defining platform in this war is Crimea. The Ukrainian government understands that it cannot agree to Russia retaining control over Crimea. Ukraine will not be safe and will not be able to rebuild its economy as long as Russia keeps Crimea, General Hodges said.
In his opinion, over the next few months, Ukraine will create conditions for the final liberation of Crimea. At the same time, Hodges noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces need long-range precision weapons, in particular ATACMS, to de-occupy Crimea.
“The transfer of weapons capable of depriving Russia of any hiding place after its missile and air strikes will allow Ukraine to make Crimea unsuitable for Russians,” the general said.
Hodges added that in order to liberate Crimea, it would be necessary to destroy the Crimean Bridge in order to cut off the Russians. At the same time, he criticized the Joe Biden administration for its unwillingness to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons.
Zelensky asks for weapons to liberate Crimea
- President Volodymyr Zelensky, during an online speech in Davos, stressed that Ukraine seeks to de-occupy Crimea, like the rest of the territory that Russia has seized. To do this, the head of state asks partners to provide long-range weapons, including missiles.
- The West has already changed its position on Crimea. They recognize the right of Ukraine to liberate the Crimean peninsula by military means. The New York Times published an article that the United States is ready to help Ukraine attack Crimea
- It was reported that the Joe Biden administration really changed its mind about the de-occupation of Crimea. At the same time, the American president has not yet made decisions on the transfer of long-range weapons to Ukraine.
- To return Crimea to the Ukrainian military, it is important to de-occupy Melitopol in the Zaporozhye region. This was emphasized by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny. Experts suggest that the liberation of Melitopol may destroy the defense of the invaders.
