The Kremlin is seeking to expand the war beyond Ukraine because it understands that it cannot conquer the country as long as Kyiv continues to receive substantial support from Western Europe. Russia is therefore attempting to strike targets in European and NATO countries, as well as the supply routes used to deliver assistance to Ukraine, Swedish MP Ulrik Nilsson has said.
Nilsson, a member of Sweden’s Moderate Party, made the remarks in a comment to Guildhall.
“The obvious conclusion is that the Kremlin believes it needs to expand the geographical scope of the war because it understands that it will not be able to conquer Ukraine as long as Ukraine continues to receive substantial support from Western Europe. That is why they are trying to strike targets inside Europe or NATO countries, as well as, obviously, the supply lines,” Nilsson said.
According to the Swedish lawmaker, such actions indicate that Russia is not confident of victory and is under significant pressure.
“I am not surprised. This is how anyone conducting a war behaves when they are under serious pressure. If they were confident of victory, they would concentrate their efforts inside Ukraine. But they are not confident. They are under pressure now,” he said.
Nilsson noted that Russia has failed to achieve the results it expected in Ukraine and argued that the Kremlin is therefore seeking to divert domestic attention by creating new situations and identifying new targets.
“It is obvious that the Russians have not achieved in Ukraine what they expected to achieve. So, in order to divert domestic public opinion, they are trying to create new situations, new targets or new ideas. Frankly, I see this as a sign of weakness on the Russian side,” the MP said.
Commenting on the Kremlin’s behavior, Nilsson also drew a historical parallel with Adolf Hitler.
“One can recall that Adolf Hitler, toward the end of the war, said: ‘We will not stop until we have a new war,’” the Swedish lawmaker concluded.
Previously, German Bundestag member Sebastian Schäfer of Alliance 90/The Greens told Guildhall that effective deterrence of Russia is impossible without the willingness of European societies to defend their values. He argued that Europe needs to strengthen societal resilience as well as its economic and military capabilities, provide greater support to Ukraine and demonstrate resolve toward the Kremlin, including by supplying Ukraine with TAURUS cruise missiles. Without broad public support, he said, full-scale deterrence of Russia cannot be achieved.
Только главные новости в нашем Telegram, Facebook и GoogleNews!
Tweet