German expert: Ukraine shows that, together with partners, Russia can be stopped
Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression shows that with political will and adequate weaponry, Russia's armed forces can be effectively resisted and stopped.
Tim Stuchtey, Executive Director of the Brandenburg Institute for Society and Security (BIGS) and Professor for Economics of Cybersecurity at the German University of Digital Science, said this in an interview with Ukrinform.
Commenting on Russia's justification of the war with the so-called "denazification" of Ukraine, the expert called these claims "nonsense" and "pure absurdity." He said this was "a propaganda narrative for the domestic audience," intended to explain "why people have to be prepared to sacrifice such material resources, such a number of human lives, and tolerate such levels of suffering."
"Even in a dictatorship, this requires explanations, because even dictators are sometimes replaced," he added.
Stuchtey admitted that, like many others, he had been surprised by the length of the war and by Ukraine's resilience.
"Did I think the war could last this long? My perception is also shaped by my socialization as a young man and soldier who, back in 1988, stood armed on the 'Iron Curtain' defending NATO against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. At the time, we had a certain fear of and respect for the scale of the Soviet army. And Russia was perceived as the direct military heir to that force. So, like many others, I was surprised that Ukraine was able to defend itself so successfully at all – and to this day – and that the war did not end after a few weeks," he said.
He stressed that after international assistance began to arrive, Ukraine's Armed Forces "organized themselves and transitioned to an orderly defense – with impressive results." He said that the Ukrainian army, which at the outset was less well equipped and significantly smaller than Russia's, "managed not only to halt the advance of Russian troops but in some places even push them back."
Even without major offensive gains in recent times, Stuchtey noted that today's Ukrainian army is "well equipped and capable of significantly slowing the Russian advance," which he described as remarkable given the manpower shortages and the high cost of the war for both soldiers and civilians.
In his assessment, the war has also led to a more realistic perception in the West of Russia's conventional military capabilities. He believes this is an important message especially for Germans, who remain very wary of any military confrontation.
"In the end, this has also led to a more realistic picture in the West of Russia's conventional capabilities. This in no way diminishes Ukraine's achievements. On the contrary, the war shows that when there is a will to defend oneself, the appropriate weaponry, and infrastructure, the Russians can be resisted. Ultimately, Russia's armed forces appear poorly led, poorly organized, and weakly motivated. And I believe that this is an important message especially for Germans, who are still very afraid of any military confrontation," the expert said.
He also noted that the combined resources of European states significantly exceed Russia's and are far more technologically advanced.
"Ukraine shows how resilient it is and that, in cooperation with partners, Russia can be stopped. Together, Europe is capable of creating significant deterrence potential – if it wants to. I hope Putin shares my assessment. If you look at the means that European states collectively possess, they are far greater and far more technologically advanced. And much more will be added in the coming years," he said.
Photo: Susanne Tockan