The United States, by making decisions to supply certain types of weapons, have been pressing “escalation” buttons in Ukraine, General Dominique Trinquand said in an interview with Radio Classique.
“The Americans have in fact been pressing escalation buttons with Russia,” said Trinquand, who headed France’s Military Mission to the UN in 2006-2008, adding the US was in a far more advantageous position than Europe.
“We clearly see that though war is being waged on Ukrainian territory, the conflict is rooted in confrontation between the US and Russia,” he said, commenting on US plans to provide Ukraine with rocket systems and ammunition with a range of up to 80 kilometers and President Joe Biden’s promise not to supply Ukraine with weapons that can reach into Russia.
Artillery is a key weapon in this conflict, according to Tringuand. “Russia has made noticeable progress owing to massive artillery strikes,” he said. And Ukraine needs weapons to counter Russia’s artillery and to switch to ground fighting, he noted.
“The US stands to gain a lot, including in terms arms, gas and grain exports, and the conflict is raging far from its borders too” he said. “Their defense minister [Lloyd Austin] said the main aim was to weaken Russia’s army and to help Ukraine win, which are not interrelated things. To weaken the Russian army would take a really prolonged conflict,” the general said.
France and President Emmanuel Macron can play an important role in resolving the crisis, according to Trinquand. The French leader may have to visit Ukraine before France’s EU presidency expires on July 1, he said. “If Macron goes to Kiev, he should above all make [President Vladimir] Zelensky realize what situation we have found ourselves in and make him answer what a victory would mean for him,” the general said.
