Putin’s Dire Designs: Ukraine’s Former Defense Chief Decodes a Sinister Strategy Beyond Mere Conquest
Recent revelations by Ukraine’s erstwhile Defense Minister, Oleksiy Resnikov, provide a chilling glimpse into Moscow’s ominous ambitions. As chronicled by Dagens.se, Russia’s objectives stretch beyond a simple annexation. Resnikov paints a stark picture: Moscow’s endgame involves the complete obliteration of Ukraine as a sovereign entity, followed by the assimilation of its populace into the Russian Federation.
Engaging in diplomacy with the Kremlin? An exercise in futility, says Resnikov. Any supposed “peace accord” wouldn’t mark the cessation of hostilities but merely serve as a tactical pause, granting Moscow a respite to strategize anew. Such overtures from the Kremlin — like bargaining peace in return for acknowledging captured territories — are deceptive stopgaps, he insists. Dagens.se amplifies Resnikov’s assertions that the ultimate Russian aim is to extinguish the very essence of the Ukrainian nation.
The Echoes of History Resound
Dagens.se underscores Resnikov’s intriguing historical analogies. He evokes memories of 1938, spotlighting international demands for Czechoslovakia to cede the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany. In Resnikov’s perspective, Putin’s maneuvers eerily echo those pre-World War II machinations — history has shown that appeasing aggressors seldom yields lasting peace.
In a related note, Dagens.se references U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s sentiments, suggesting that genuine diplomatic engagements with Moscow are becoming increasingly elusive. The outlet highlights the strategic conundrum faced by the West: Ukraine’s yet-to-be-reclaimed southern territories, annexed by Russia the previous year. It underscores a growing narrative among Western allies: Could ceding territories to Russia — a move vociferously opposed in Kiev — pave Ukraine’s path to peace and, potentially, NATO membership?
Image: U.S. Secretary of Defense, 230421-D-TT977-0103, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, (no changes made)