THE CASE FOR LIBERATING CRIMEA
As Ukraine continues to beat back Russian forces in its eastern Donbas region and prepares for a spring offensive to liberate more territory, there is another issue lurking just below the surface.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has defined victory in the war as nothing short of driving all Russian troops from all Ukrainian territory.
And that means liberating not just Donbas, but also Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014.
How realistic is a Ukrainian liberation of Crimea? And what would that look like? On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore speaks with retired US Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges,a 37-year veteran of the United States armed forces and the former commander of U.S. Army Europe, who is currently a Senior Advisor at Human Rights First; and journalist and longtime Russia-watcher Casey Michel, author of the book American Kleptocracy and of the recently published article in Politico titled: “Here’s How Ukraine Can Retake Crimea.”
Enjoy…
SHOW NOTES
Casey Michel’s article for Politico, “Here’s How Ukraine Can Retake Crimea,” which was discussed in the podcast, can be accessed here.
The clips opening the podcast and the second segment of the show are from a February 26, 2023 speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which can be accessed here.
The translations are as follows:
“In 2014, Russian aggression began with the seizure of Crimea. It is logical that by liberating Crimea, we will put a historic end to any attempts by Russia to ruin the lives of Ukrainians and all the peoples of Europe and Asia that the Kremlin once claimed to conquer.”
“Today, on February 26, we mark the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol. And today this conversation is especially important. It is about ensuring an understanding through information and all other means that Ukraine will not abandon anyone, will not leave anyone to the enemy. We will return all our people and everything ours from Russian captivity.”