Today at 15:39
Czech President Petr Pavel disagrees with the claim that Russia is currently “winning the war” against Ukraine.
He shared his thoughts in an interview with BBC Ukraine.
Pavel was asked, in his capacity as a general, to assess whether Russia is currently gaining the upper hand on the battlefield.
“In response to the Russian claim, I would say that victory looks very different. Russia has had several tactical successes. They have managed to seize parts of Ukrainian territory, but their advances come at a high cost in casualties and losses. I believe that is a very, very high price to pay for gaining land,” the Czech president said.
He added that Ukrainian defenders are still successfully holding the front, including in difficult sectors, while inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.
“If the war continues in this manner, it will last for years. Such a situation is unacceptable for everyone,” Pavel emphasized.
He also shared his view on the current balance of power between Russia and Ukraine in the war.
As reported earlier, NATO has warned of a “difficult summer” for Ukraine, citing misleading intelligence being received by Putin.
Read also: Rutte: Estonia Could Face Russian Threat Within a Decade if NATO Falls Short
