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Partner, KKR & Chairman, KKR Global Institute, USA

General David H. Petraeus

Russian forces have to be stopped in Ukraine

Putin’s worst nightmare is a vibrant, prosperous, and democratic Ukraine on Russia’s border, showing the Russian people what their country could be if the kleptocratic regime ruling Russia was replaced by a democratic, free market system that functioned properly.The ultimate irony is that in setting out to make Russia great again, Putin has actually made NATO great again, generating unity among NATO members not seen since the end of the Cold War and prompting Finland and Sweden to seek to join NATO.

Involvement during Russia’s war against Ukraine

General David H. Petraeus actively maintains awareness for support of Ukrainian forces and the Ukrainian government. He is a member of the Strategic Advisory Council (SAC), which provides support and advice to the Ukrainian World Congress’s ‘Unite with Ukraine’ campaign. The SAC has set a goal of providing 100,000 Territorial Defence Force fighters with lifesaving protective gear, including helmets, body armour, ballistic eyewear, and medical kits.

How dangerous would be to freeze the conflict as per the 2014 scenario instead of restoring the Ukrainian borders fully? What would you say to those European politicians who prompt the opposite solution?

The grinding, costly, and slow advance of the Russian forces has to be stopped in Ukraine — and pushed back there. Western countries must enable Ukraine to retake as much of what has been lost since 24 February, if not all, and beyond.

We have to keep in mind that Putin wants not only to seize much more of Ukraine, but he also has greater ambitions to restore Russia to greatness. He wants to irrevocably weaken Ukraine and, ultimately, take away its independence.

I believe that the USA, Europe, and the western world will, despite the challenges of inflation, energy issues, and slowing economic growth, remain steadfast in their support for Ukraine, its forces, and its people — for whom all citizens of the free world have come to feel great admiration. 

Putin’s worst nightmare is, of course, a vibrant, prosperous, democratic Ukraine on Russia’s border, showing the Russian people what their country could be if the kleptocratic regime ruling Russia was replaced by a democratic, free market system that functioned properly. Needless to say, the ultimate irony is that in setting out to make Russia great again, Putin has actually made NATO great again, generating unity and resolve among NATO members not seen since the end of the Cold War and prompting Finland and Sweden — two historically neutral, very capable, and geostrategically important states — to seek to join NATO.