The bloc must be prepared to introduce “missile protection” over Ukraine to defend its borders and Western arms supplies, Stanislaw Koziej said.
The former head of Poland’s National Security Office, General Stanislaw Koziej, has called on NATO to deliver an ultimatum to Russia: either Moscow stops missile strikes in western parts of Ukraine near NATO borders or the alliance imposes“missile protection” about Ukraine. In an interview with the Polish website Onet last week, Koziej, who was Poland’s national security chief from 2010 to 2015, said NATO should protect military equipment that Western countries send to Ukraine.
At the moment, the general said, Russian forces are trying to destroy the weapons with long-range missiles launched from the Black Sea or with the help of strategic aviation. That is “unacceptable,” says Koziej. According to him, the fact that Russia is apparently using dual-purpose missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads gives NATO every reason to take steps to mitigate the risks.
“We have every reason to take preemptive action and inform Russia that if it does not stop attacking our border with long-range missiles, one day we will introduce anti-missile protection in western Ukraine.” dijo Goat.
Russia has long called on the West to stop “pumping” Ukraine with weapons, warning that it would only prolong the conflict and lead to more problems. Moscow also made it clear that it would consider any foreign military equipment on Ukrainian territory a legitimate target. In Koziej’s opinion, so far Russia has achieved “blackmailed” The West by threatening the potential use of nuclear weapons. Therefore, he argued, NATO should be prepared to shoot down Russian missiles. “at an appropriate distance” from its edge.
“In my opinion, this situation must finally be reversed or at least balanced. It cannot be that in the confrontation of two sides only one scares, puts up barriers, conditions and red lines”. said the former head of the National Security Office. On June 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was not threatening anyone with nuclear weapons, but that “Everyone should know what we have and what we will use if necessary to protect our sovereignty.”
Commenting on the current situation in Ukraine from a military perspective, Koziej said that “Nothing is decided yet.” While Russia is slowly pushing forward Western support remains a hope for Ukraine.
“The Ukrainians have more and more modern military equipment from the West, and the Russians have the opposite, because they also have to look for obsolete post-Soviet equipment.” he claimed.
Koziej has not ruled out that Ukraine may suffer territorial losses.
“But in terms of state unity, the strength of the Ukrainian nation, Ukraine’s position in the world, or its chances of joining the West, Ukraine has won this conflict…” he said.
Meanwhile, Russia, according to the general, “he is losing the war” because its strategic possibilities will diminish, its position on the international stage will deteriorate, and the standard of living of Russians “will go down significantly.” Since the launch of Russia’s special military operation, kyiv has been calling on NATO and Western countries to impose a no-fly zone or provide Ukraine with the means to do so on its own, such as anti-aircraft defense systems and fighter jets. . However, these requests remain unfulfilled, as the West claims that such a move would bring it into direct confrontation with Russia.
Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February after Ukraine failed to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The protocols negotiated by Germany and France were designed to give breakaway regions special status within the Ukrainian state.
Since then, the Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join the US-led NATO military bloc. kyiv insists the Russian offensive was completely unprovoked and has denied claims it planned to retake the two republics by force.