Retired U.S. Army General Mark Hartling predicted on Saturday that Russia’s war in Ukraine may “heat up” in the spring because it is “harder” to conduct operations in the winter.
Hertling was asked in an interview. CNN this morning Whether he thinks spring will be a key inflection point in war. The former general replied that he thought it would.
“So far, Russia’s mobilization efforts have failed across the board, but in the spring they will contribute additional mobilization forces,” Hartling said. “In the winter operations slow down and are more difficult to execute. Even during the winter, we had an incredibly tough slugfest in the East and Southwest. See things get pretty hot. I think it will be an opportunity for Ukraine to continue its offensive operations.”
He added that if Ukraine tries to retake the territory, it must conduct combined-arms operations in the southeast and continue to counter Russian advances in the Donbass region.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said on Friday that Ukraine has an opportunity to build up its capabilities between now and spring, during a press conference after the Ukrainian Defense Liaison Group meeting at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Stated. Representatives from more than 50 countries have gathered at a US-led conference to discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine’s military might.
“What we are really focused on is making sure that Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to succeed right now. So there is a window of opportunity here … from now on. “By the spring…they’ll have to launch operations, their counterattacks, and it won’t be long, and they’ll need to muster the right capabilities,” Austin said.
Austin also warned of Russia’s mobilization efforts and plans to bolster its military, noting that it was important for the West to continue to support Ukraine.
“This is a defining moment,” he said. “Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to re-equip. Now is not the time to slow down. It’s time to dig deeper. The people of Ukraine are watching us. The Kremlin is watching us. “History is watching us.”
Photo by Spencer Pratt/Getty Images
At a meeting in Germany on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the contact group to accelerate deliberations on sending additional military support to the country.
“I am very grateful to everyone who has provided weapons,” he said. “All units are saving people from terror, but time is still Russia’s weapon.”
He continued: [it] Freedom defenders run out of weapons against it. The war started by Russia does not allow delays. “
Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced a $3 billion military capabilities package to help Ukraine. The package contained dozens of weapons and defense mechanisms, including howitzer missiles and anti-tank missiles.
Newsweek I asked the Russian Foreign Ministry for comment.
