Podcast “Ukraine – the situation”
“Time is running out for an offensive”: Mölling does not expect the Russians to advance quickly
Tanks like this T-64 are still making good progress on the frozen Ukrainian soil
© Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP
Security expert Christian Mölling does not expect President Vladimir Putin’s troops to achieve rapid success in a major Russian offensive in the Donbass. Nevertheless, he blames the West for tank deliveries.
Security expert Christian Mölling does not expect President Vladimir Putin’s troops to achieve rapid success in a major Russian offensive in the Donbass. Mölling said on Tuesday in star-Podcast “Ukraine – the situation” that such an offensive would of course be a challenge for the Ukrainian army. The artillery fire could create a zone at the front in which survival was hardly possible. But he doesn’t see anything that would “allow for a quick, large-scale operation by Russia at this point in time.” The research director of the German Council on Foreign Relations pointed out that the Russian army was running out of time for an offensive as the frozen ground would eventually thaw and become muddy. He accused the West of not having given Ukraine the best possible starting position by delaying the delivery of tanks. “We’re five past twelve,” said Mölling. He called on all those involved to make the promised deliveries possible as quickly as possible, regardless of domestic political advantages.
Not a quick decision about jets for Ukraine
Mölling assumed that next week’s Munich Security Conference would not make a decision on the delivery of combat aircraft to Ukraine. “I don’t think it’s realistic,” he said, commenting on Poland’s hopes of agreeing on such an initiative with the representatives of the NATO countries expected in Munich. On this issue, he understands Poland’s interest, which feels threatened more directly than countries further west. Overall, there is also a lot to be said for “bringing this war to a decision”. If Russia is further pushed back, this could make negotiations possible. He did not want to commit himself to an exact point in time, but the basis should be created as quickly as possible. Mölling explained: “Russia does not have infinite resources, but it can endure a low-level war far longer than we possibly can.”