Former Pentagon chief considers the Ukrainian Armed Forces to be the most combat-ready army in Europe
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper stated that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are currently the most combat-ready and experienced army in Europe. According to him, the Ukrainian military has not only halted Russian aggression but has also become one of the leading innovators in the field of modern warfare.
When asked about Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Esper replied that the most important thing right now is to send a clear signal that will help reassure other NATO allies, strengthen Ukraine’s position, and further deter Russia. Given concerns about Ukraine’s ongoing state of war with Russia, the former minister suggested an approach whereby temporarily occupied territories would not be covered by NATO guarantees—or alternatively, that Ukraine would not be granted membership immediately and would be subject to certain conditions.
He also expressed the view that the Ukrainian army today is undoubtedly the most combat-ready and experienced army in Europe.
“Ukraine is fighting an army that is many times larger in size. The aggressor country has an economy that is roughly ten times larger and a population that is about four times larger than Ukraine’s. Despite this, the Ukrainians have not only halted the Russian offensive but have effectively brought the war to a stalemate. Therefore, if the question is whether Ukraine will strengthen NATO’s security, the answer is unequivocally yes,” the former minister explained.
Esper added that Ukrainians have become pioneers for the entire world in unmanned warfare, counter-drone operations, new tactics, and military doctrine. In his view, Americans have a great deal to learn from them.
He made these remarks in an interview with Independence Avenue Media.
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