“Ukrainians are on the front lines of our freedom,” but “their bravery alone will not be enough.” Jean-Paul Paloméros, French general and former Supreme Allied Commander ‘Transformation’ of NATO, was the guest of the Face to face of BFMTV this Monday morning, in order to analyze the situation of the war in Ukraine and the evolution of the conflict.
“Our hope must be in our action,” he insisted. And to better define this action, the officer first painted the picture of the forces present.
General Jean-Paul Palomeros estimated the number of inactive soldiers on one side or the other at 100,000. Two camps separated by a front. Because for the former NATO commander we can speak of a front: “In Bakhmout, we have the expression of a front, even if it is not continuous for 800 kilometers.” However, he summed up, “Ukraine is not interested in allowing this front to be established.”
The options on the table
Indeed, for the general, this war of position runs the risk of annihilating what until now has been the great asset of the Ukrainian army: its mobility.
“Mr. Putin continues his attacks in depth, mobilizes his reservists, regains control, while the strength of the Ukrainians was to be very offensive, to take the initiative, thanks to their courage but also to their innovations,” he launched.
However, early adopters are well aware of this. “Recently we saw a reflection between the Ukrainian president and his military leaders who raised the debate very clearly, saying: ‘It is not a good option to lock us in, but we can attack from the north, which would be a good option because it would cut the logistical lines of the Russians, which would destabilize them, either from the south, and descend on Melitopol, which would bring them closer to the Crimea,” asked Jean-Paul Paloméros.
A much-needed aviation
A war effort that would require both on the ground and in the air. And that’s where the shoe pinches, because the Ukrainians lack combat aircraft.
“The lack of air dimension is still a deficit for the Ukrainians and I don’t think the West will provide it immediately,” he lamented. “It is a limitation of our aid today,” he further acknowledged.
The one who was one of the heads of NATO pointed out: “Ukrainians are backed by collective will, but resilience has its limits, use industrial potential, defense capabilities.” The Western alliance is therefore crucial. “The key is to sustain the effort, it is now that we will see who is the strongest. Are we collectively capable of supporting and sustaining the Ukrainian effort at all costs?” he wondered.
Although he admitted that the aid given to Ukraine was “colossal”, he judged that the Europeans should ask themselves “how to push it further and put their defense industry on a war footing”. The official illustrated: “Until now, we have refrained from providing means of attacks that are deep in depth and can range from fighter jets to long-range missiles.”
a political solution
However, the main thing is not there according to Jean-Paul Paloméros: “But what is needed is to continue providing means of attack in the theater. What the Ukrainians are asking for is more artillery pieces, more drones.”
Finally, the military administration must be accompanied by the further political integration of Ukraine. While in his greetings, Volodymyr Zelensky assured his compatriots that his country “would join the EU and NATO” -a prospect hated by Vladimir Putin who does not even want to hear about an extension of the Atlantic Alliance to the Russian borders-, the military approved it. .
“For Volodymyr Zelensky, there can be no alternative and we too must be convinced of this,” said Jean-Paul Paloméros, who finished: “We will have to give Ukraine security guarantees.”
Source: BFM TV
