The United States must provide Ukraine with resources and weapons sufficient for adequate defense, on the understanding that Russia is showing no signs of readiness to voluntarily give up the territories it has already seized. At the same time, fears of possible “escalation” by the Russian Federation should not restrain such support.
This was stated in an exclusive interview with Guildhall by retired senior U.S. officers — Major General Michael Repass, former commander of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command and U.S. Special Operations Command Europe.
According to him, in an ideal scenario Ukraine should be “provided with the resources for full self-defense, for driving the Russians from your territory, restoring sovereignty,” and for creating conditions under which Russia “would be unable or unwilling ever to attack Ukraine again.”
At the same time, he stressed that the current reality requires proceeding from Moscow’s actual position. “Russia gives no indication that it will cede territory it already controls. There are no examples in its history of it ever doing so. I do not think the United States should realistically expect Russia to do this voluntarily,” Repass said.
That is why, in his words, “Ukraine must be supplied and armed in such a way as to defend itself adequately, without provoking some mythical escalation by Russia.” He stressed separately: “That will not happen. Russia will not escalate over territory that is in fact foreign land.”
Speaking about Ukraine’s political future, Repass noted: “I would like to see Ukraine as part of the EU. I would like to see it as part of NATO.” According to him, he would like to see Ukraine “sovereign and independent, free from Russian influence — direct or indirect,” as well as “a viable economic partner in Eastern Europe, probably the anchor of Eastern Europe.”
He also expressed confidence in the country’s post-war potential. “I think that after the war Ukraine will have opportunities to prosper on the international stage — economically, technologically, militarily,” Repass said. In his assessment, “you have advantages that other countries simply do not have,” and “significant advantages that other countries in Europe, in particular, do not have.”
Earlier, Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter stated that to achieve a sustainable peace, declarations of solidarity with Ukraine are not enough for Europe — the EU must move to real action, including arms supplies, expanding the defense industry, and using frozen Russian assets.
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