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Former NATO commander: President Putin ‘forced’ to win within 9 months

Former NATO commander revealed that President Putin was 'required' to win within 9 months - Photo 1.

The war in Ukraine continues to be complicated. Photo: Getty

Lieutenant General Konstantinos Loukopoulos, who teaches tank combat at military academies in Kiev and Moscow, said: “On tanks and armored vehicles there are the positions of driver, gunner, loader and commander. , all need individual training and team training”.

“Ukrainian forces need tactical training, including test firing and drills, and they can’t do it in a few weeks. The training cycle is at least six months and that doesn’t change even in wartime. “, he argued.

The US, UK, Canada, France, Germany and the Czech Republic have committed to buying a wide range of armor and artillery for Ukraine, which complicates matters further, Mr. Loukopoulos stressed.

For example, of the 90 M777 howitzers sent by the US to Ukraine, about 18 were deployed, he said, adding that it was not known how many of the 14 César self-propelled howitzers sent by France were in use. .

“For Ukraine to be able to get hold of the weapons from the West and put them into action, form the right units and train them, it takes about eight or nine months,” Loukopoulos said.

He believes that is the timeframe in which President Putin must win the war on the ground and reach a negotiated agreement.

“In the current balance of forces, Moscow has the advantage, there is no doubt about that. But after a few months, after Ukraine is fully trained, it can make an attack. strategic counterattack and defeat Russia”.

The statement comes as Russian forces continue to attack at three main points to encircle Ukraine’s defenders, including Izyum to the north, Severodonetsk to the east and Popasna to the south.

On May 20, in Popasna, Russian forces penetrated Ukraine’s defenses, capturing several areas. Three days later, they took control of Myronovsky, the starting point to Sloviansk, where all three spearheads of the Russian campaign were likely to converge.

On the northern front, Moscow also repeatedly shelled Izyum, which many Ukrainian authorities describe as the prelude to an all-out offensive.

Russian forces appear to be trying to move pincers from Izyum and Popasna to isolate Ukraine’s entire tactical army, consisting of about 50,000 men, in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

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