NATO Deputy Commander: Ukraine Has “Window of Opportunity”

RICHARD SHIRREFF, FORMER NATO DEPUTY SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE: The Ukrainians have won the battle at Kyiv. They’ve done outstandingly well and the Russians have had to retreat. The Russians are about to launch again. But all indications are that they’re going to do so with units and formations which have been seriously depleted by the fighting around Kyiv. So, it’s by no means going to be a straightforward battle for Putin and his armies. And to think if the Ukrainian — if we can give the Ukrainians the capabilities that they need, long-range precision artillery, missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, I think they’ll stand a very good chance of not only blunting the forthcoming Russian attack but potentially defeating it as well.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: OK. So, let me play for you a portion of the conversation and interview I had with Ukraine’s chief of military intelligence, General Budanov. I was in Kyiv and we spoke on Friday, and I asked him about this next phase and what they would need. So, let’s just play what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. KYRYLO BUDANOV, UKRAINIAN DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE CHIEF (through translator): I agree that this is an excellent opportunity to provide supplies to Ukraine. Second priority is heavy artillery and missile systems. Our priorities include anti-air defenses and then heavy armament as well. Air defense systems and aviation system. Combat planes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: And these, he said, were not just to fight in the air, but also to take out Russian troops. And if it’s true that, apparently according to the intelligence, basically the Russian convoy includes helicopter support, obviously, infantry and also aircraft, planes and helicopters moving into position and heavy equipment coming in by train from Belarus. Do you agree with General Budanov, that they need combat planes?

SHIRREFF: Yes, I do. And I — particularly, the reason I say that is because the more attrition the Ukrainians can cause before the Russians are able to launch the better, frankly. They should be striking the Russians in the deep — in what the military call the deep battle to prevent them deploying, lining up and attacking in the close battle. The more — as I say, the more damage they can do now, the easier it will be for them later. But for that to happen, they need the equipment. And so, NATO has really got to — and the West has got to ramp up its current plans to a tempo which guarantees that the equipment can get into the battle as quickly as possible for the Ukrainians to have an effect with it.