The top U.S. general in Europe said Wednesday that the Obama administration’s current sanctions approach has not deterred Russia’s onslaught of Ukraine.
“What we are doing now is not changing the bottom line,” Gen. Philip Breedlove, commander of U.S. European Command, told the House Armed Services Committee. “What we see is Russia continues to use their force.”
Republican and Democratic members of the committee pressed Breedlove as to whether Ukraine has made a specific weapons request, whether those requests had been pushed to the White House, and if nothing else is done, what other European countries Russia might it have in its sights.
In the last week, Russia has made military advances in eastern Ukraine despite signing an agreement with the country, Germany and France on Feb. 12 that called for a complete ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.
Breedlove said, in his opinion, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not going to stop the advances in Ukraine.
“Mr. Putin has not accomplished his objectives in Ukraine,” he said, suggesting Putin will continue to move forces further into Ukraine and may ultimately try to replicate his subversive campaign in Moldova, Georgia and Montenegro.
“The main goal of Mr. Putin is to divide the West in general,” Breedlove said. To “economically and militarily find those cracks, live in them, and expand them. If he divides NATO, he gets Ukraine.”
Without lethal defensive weapons, Ukraine “cannot stop a Russian advance in eastern Ukraine,” Breedlove said. But the European commander also said at this point, “I don’t think Ukraine can stop them even if we supply lethal aid. We need to change the calculation.”
Breedlove said the command has worked with Ukraine to identify which systems would be most effective in helping it counter Russia and has “advised to my chain of command,” of those requests, he said.
“We must speculate that if [Russia is] unchecked, this leads to further problems. Where might they go next?” said the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington. Smith and committee Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, introduced legislation earlier this month to provide $1 billion to get lethal defense weapons, such as anti-tank weapons and anti-mortar radars to Ukraine.
Thornberry said the legislation has bipartisan support and will move forward.
“What I hope is that the president sees the overwhelming support of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate,” on providing lethal aid to Ukraine.
“People on this committee and other committees believe it should happen very soon.”
