European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius stated that Russia does not have the strength often attributed to it and is incapable of winning the war against Ukraine.
He said this in an interview with the Lithuanian broadcaster LRT.
Kubilius spoke about a European plan in case the United States reduces its support for Ukraine.
“Yes, Ukraine needs support. Yes, this support can come from the European Union together with America. Without America, we also need to think about how we will manage, but there is no other way,” the Commissioner said.
Kubilius emphasized that stopping aid to Ukraine or calling for territorial concessions to Russia would only encourage further Kremlin aggression.
“It’s very hard to say what will happen next, but let’s ask ourselves what alternatives there are. End the war by giving the occupied territories to Russia, as some propose? Then we will only push Putin toward more aggression. Stop supporting Ukraine supposedly for peace? That would be tantamount to forcing Ukraine to surrender,” he said.
The Commissioner is convinced that the only response is to increase pressure on Russia and maintain support for Ukraine.
“Russia is not as powerful as it is sometimes thought, and I see no evidence of great Russian strength,” Kubilius stressed.
He also admitted that predicting future developments is difficult but noted that current realities speak for themselves.
“Three years of war. Ukraine, with Western support, has held strong, and that is a lot. Russia will not win this war,” the European Commissioner concluded.
