Yuriy Banakhevych, Warsaw / Ukrinform
A security forum is ongoing in Warsaw, where government officials, politicians, military personnel, and experts from around the world discuss the challenges facing Europe and strategies for ending the war on the continent.
In a brief interview with Ukrinform, the former UK Secretary of Defense shared his thoughts on the latest initiatives by the US President regarding Ukraine, assessed our country’s defense capabilities, the psychological state of Putin, and the West’s commitment to further support Kyiv.
A PART OF UKRAINE’S DEFENSE IS DISRUPTING RUSSIAN LOGISTICS
– Mr. Wallace, will European allies support Ukraine’s right to self-defense, including striking Russian fuel infrastructure and logistics facilities? I ask in view of recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who calls on Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries.
– Allies must continue to support Ukraine. Part of Ukraine’s defense is disrupting Russian logistics, particularly the supply of fuel to the Russian army. Therefore, the answer is clear:
we continue to support Ukraine’s right to act on Russian territory as long as Russia conducts an illegal war.
I see no signs that Putin listens to Donald Trump’s statements or will even pause military actions.
– Should Ukraine intensify and expand its strikes deep into Russian territory, particularly on energy infrastructure?
– This is a question for the Ukrainian command: what is effective for them on the battlefield and how to make Putin realize that peace suits his interests more than anyone else’s. This is important. But it’s up to them (the command, – ed.) to decide how far to go and how many strikes to make. It’s always necessary to find a balance between strikes against logistics near the front line and strikes deep in (the enemy territory, – ed.). Ultimately, Ukraine acts correctly in making Russia understand that its illegal invasion will have economic consequences. I completely support this.
But I am not sure that anyone, except Donald Trump, decided that there is some “agreement.”
I think much of what Trump does is made up on the golf course in Florida and has no relation to the reality on the ground in most regions of the world.
UKRAINE IS VERY INGENIOUS IN IDENTIFYING RUSSIAN TARGETS AND CAPABILITIES
– How do European partners and the UK plan to continue supporting Ukraine?
– I can only speak for the United Kingdom. London must continue acting as we always have: helping both materially and with intelligence data. We must not forget that Ukraine is very inventive in identifying Russian targets and capabilities. Let’s not forget, although the Russians do, that many thousands of Ukrainians served in the Soviet army and know Russia from the inside much better than many Russians. Therefore, in the end, we must support them with everything we can.
– How do you assess the situation at the front and in Ukraine in general?
– I believe that Ukraine has an advantage in many aspects. Strategically, Russia has seen that as a result of its behavior, Sweden and Finland have joined NATO, which was absolutely not in Putin’s calculations. Now it has two more NATO allies near its borders, which it clearly did not want.
Putin needs to understand that he is actually losing because of his own ego.
It’s time for him to ask uncomfortable questions to his military because they are clearly not telling the truth. He and his ministers are busy inventing fake victories that do not exist on the battlefield. Ukraine, despite huge sacrifices among its people, continues the fight and achieves significant results. Today, no one can claim that Russia has won.
– Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense, including additional missiles for Patriot systems. Can Europe help meet these needs?
– Technology is already outpacing some of these needs. We are already seeing companies in Ukraine and Europe creating alternatives to very expensive missiles. This war cannot be won only with Patriot missiles.
This war will be won through new technologies.
Ukraine has proven this since the first day of the war. Once I supported Ukraine with NLAW anti-tank missiles, which were very helpful in countering Russian tanks. Technology is developing very quickly. Ukraine, like Europe, has an advantage in this development.
– How, in your opinion, will the war develop in the near term?
– We are dealing with President Putin, who from the first day of the war acts based on ego and fantasies. This is illogical and irrational thinking. His worldview is based on a distorted history. In the end, Russia suffers. Its people are beginning to understand that the suffering is the result of Putin’s ego.
BRITAIN DOES NOT LIMIT ITSELF TO PRESS RELEASES, WE BELIEVE IN REAL ACTIONS THAT MAKE RUSSIA PAY FOR ITS ACTIONS
– Russia continues subversion in European countries, including the United Kingdom, and conducts disinformation campaigns. How should Western countries counter these threats?
– Some countries, like Britain, do not stand aside when we are attacked. During my time as a junior security minister, after the Skripal poisoning by the Russians (in March 2018), we worked with our allies, and 153 Russian diplomats were expelled from various countries worldwide.
One must respond to aggression; otherwise, the aggressor will decide that everything is permissible.
We will not tolerate this. A bully can only bully if you allow him to do so. Britain is not limited to press releases: we are convinced that Russia must feel the real consequences of its policy. And this is very important. Russia likes to pick on those who can be intimidated or bought. But it will not succeed in buying the countries of Northern Europe, Poland, Ukraine, or Britain. Aggression must be answered, otherwise the aggressor will decide that everything is allowed.
– And finally – a question that concerns all Ukrainians: will Great Britain continue to support Ukraine as long as necessary?
– Yes. We are witnessing what our generation has not seen since World War II: a totalitarian dictator in the Kremlin chooses the path of ethnic war, occupation, and the destruction of an entire country. The only way is either to make him realize that he has already lost, or to wait for his own people to understand that this man is leading them to economic and military catastrophe. Russia is now a much weaker country than it was 10 years ago. This is a war that costs it dearly.
