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On the top of the just-concluded “armed rebellion” by the Wagner mercenary forces in Russia, Ukraine’s Minister of Protection Oleksii Reznikov jumped into the breach. Posting a video online addressed to Russian troopers combating in Ukraine, telling them to “…go residence, defend your home.” Including, “Handle your destiny, you continue to have an opportunity to outlive.”
It’s the sort of energetic stance the 57-year-old Reznikov assumes together with his place which he’s held since earlier than the struggle began final yr. Since then, he’s been recognized to U.S. officers and figures world wide as one of many public faces of Ukraine’s struggle effort. Shortly earlier than the “tried coup” by the Wagner group, and amid complaints of a slower-than-expected begin to Ukraine’s counteroffensive towards Russia, we sat down with the protection chief for his battlefield evaluation.
With Ukraine’s counteroffensive in its third week, Reznikov described the present maneuvers as “some sort of preparatory operation,” acknowledging the Russians had constructed up “very sturdy defensive traces.” Once we requested him whether or not this was the primary assault, for the Ukrainian army, the “blitzkrieg,” he bristled, saying “No, no, no.”
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Ukrainian servicemen fireplace with a D-30 howitzer at Russian positions close to Bakhmut, japanese Ukraine, March 21, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Sergey Shestak/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
He added, nonetheless, that after it absolutely will get going, it is going to be profitable and “one step nearer to victory.”
He admitted early expectations have been “overestimated” for the offensive, and Ukraine could be very cautious when it places its courageous and motivated combating women and men in hurt’s manner.
“We attempt to save their lives,” Reznikov mentioned. He described the Russian method to utilizing its troops as a “meat grinder.”
This counteroffensive guarantees to function Western-supplied armor like American Bradley combating automobiles and German Leopard tanks.
BAKHMUT, UKRAINE – JUNE 19: Ukrainian troopers from the sixtieth Battalion of Territorial Protection, are capturing rounds into Russian positions with an S60 anti-aircraft canon positioned on a truck, outdoors Bakhmut, Ukraine on June 19, 2023. (Picture by Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Pictures) (Picture by Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Pictures)
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“They’re very refined maneuvering,” Reznikov mentioned. “The troopers like them.”
We requested if the gear was arriving quick sufficient. He replied, “I began asking for this stuff in February 2022,” the month the struggle began.
Together with throwing all types of typical warfare at Ukraine, Russian President Putin has been speaking about and enjoying the nuclear card. For instance, deploying tactical nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus. We requested Protection Minister Reznikov if it’s for actual.
“I believe, for me, personally, it feels like a bluff,” he replied, including, “I believe the civilized world has arguments towards that to steer him.”
Oleksii Reznikov, Ukrain’s protection minister, speaks to Greg Palkot, senior overseas affairs correspondent for Fox Information Channel, in Kyiv in June 2023. (Simon Owen/Fox Information)
On becoming a member of NATO, a powerful protection towards any nuclear assault from Russia, Reznikov is practical.
“I’m certain we can be a full-fledged member, however it should take time,” he famous. He was not postpone by President Biden’s current feedback the U.S. wouldn’t make it straightforward for Ukraine to hitch.
“It’s of their curiosity” for NATO international locations to have Ukraine as a member as a result of it is aware of how you can “defeat and deter Russian armed forces,” Reznikov mentioned.
Members of Wagner group examine a automotive in a road of Rostov-on-Don, on June 24, 2023. President Vladimir Putin on June 24, 2023 mentioned an armed mutiny by Wagner mercenaries was a “stab within the again” and that the group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had betrayed Russia, as he vowed to punish the dissidents. Prigozhin mentioned his fighters management key army websites within the southern metropolis of Rostov-on-Don. (Picture by STRINGER/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Secretary of State Blinken just lately famous positive factors within the counteroffensive may put Kyiv in a greater bargaining place with Moscow. Reznikov was agency that there could be no speaking with Russia till Ukraine’s unique borders have been restored, his “redline.”
“We can be prepared to debate postwar co-existence (with Russia) after they get out of our land,” he mentioned.
In response to Reznikov, the U.S. is a “essential” ally of Ukraine.
“Primary,” he mentioned holding up his finger. “It is a severe nation with severe potential,” he added, “with severe sources and a severe functionality to steer different international locations to hitch to this coalition.”
U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III, left, shakes hand with Ukrainian Minister of Protection Oleksii Reznikov throughout a bilateral assembly forward of a gathering of the NATO Council Protection Ministers on the Alliance headquarters in Brussels Oct. 12, 2022. (Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Through AP)
He mentioned he wasn’t apprehensive about weakening of assist within the U.S. for military aid to Ukraine, particularly amongst Republicans.
“I just like the American ‘invention … bipartisan,’” he mentioned. “For me, it sounds very acquainted. I’m completely certain we could have the identical degree of assist.”
We requested Defense Minister Reznikov a very powerful query: Will Ukraine be victorious?
“My intestine feeling is we’ll win this struggle as a result of we’re combating for our nation,” he replied.
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We requested him how lengthy would it not take. Months? Years?
“This yr can be a recreation changer,” he mentioned, indicating there could be no less than some sort of pathway to the end of this ugly struggle.
“Now we have to,” he concluded determinedly, “it’s our thought.” Lots of people are hoping that “thought” is true.
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