SHOCKER: Ukraine Is not Able to Retake Crimea Soon According to Pentagon
Jose Nino
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In a classified briefing from earlier this month, four senior Defense Department officials informed the House Armed Services Committee that Ukrainian forces are unlikely to retake Crimea from Russia.
POLITICO reported that this bleak assessment for Ukraine was spelled out by three individuals who possess knowledge of the material featured in the February 2 briefing. Based on the material presented, the Pentagon doesn’t see Ukraine taking back Crimea anytime soon.
A fourth individual claimed the briefing was more ambiguous on the matter. However, the main point about Ukraine not being able to retake Crimea with ease remained.
The briefers not-so optimistic view is similar to that of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, who expressed similar sentiments on January 20 during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany.
The assessment from the briefers echoes what Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chair, has alluded to in recent weeks.
“I still maintain that for this year it would be very, very difficult to militarily eject the Russian forces from all –– every inch of Ukraine and occupied –– or Russian-occupied Ukraine,” Milley stated. “That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but it’d be very, very difficult.”
Crimea became a part of Russia in a controversial referendum in 2014 following the Euromaidan revolution. With Russian military assets being firmly installed in the Crimean peninsula, it will be a tall order for Ukraine to retake this area. Copious amounts of military aid and NATO boots on the grounds will be the only way for this goal to be realized, which would likely result in a potential nuclear exchange.
According to a source that POLITICO citied, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky was “furious” with Milley’s comments. In the meantime, Ukraine is preparing to launch its offensive in the spring.
There will obviously be stronger calls for military aid to Ukraine as Russia starts making more progress in eastern Ukraine. America First nationalists must get loud and oppose such calls for heightening tensions in Ukraine. Instead, America’s focus should be on putting troops on its southern border with Mexico, where there’s an actual national security threat. Now is not the time to be engaging in some quixotic geopolitical venture that could potentially go nuclear.
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