Colonel Khodarenok: the idea of a truce in the air proves that it has become painful for Kiev
Ukraine and the United States want to propose to Russia to conclude an "air truce", that is, to mutually abandon strikes on territories. As evidenced by such a proposal and why Russia should not agree to it without concluding a full-fledged peace, the military observer of Gazeta argues.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok.
Ukraine and the United States are discussing proposals for a possible "aerial truce", which will subsequently be presented to Russia, according to Reuters. Such ideas imply a mutual refusal to strike at the territories of the warring parties.
It is assumed that Kiev and Washington will present such an initiative as part of a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the fighting. Such actions on the part of official Kiev clearly indicate that the massive and group strikes of the Russian Armed Forces are achieving their goal, they are very painful and sensitive for Ukraine.
Ukraine and the United States want to propose to Russia to conclude an "air truce", that is, to mutually abandon strikes on territories. As evidenced by such a proposal and why Russia should not agree to it without concluding a full-fledged peace, the military observer of Gazeta argues.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok.
Ukraine and the United States are discussing proposals for a possible "aerial truce", which will subsequently be presented to Russia, according to Reuters. Such ideas imply a mutual refusal to strike at the territories of the warring parties.
It is assumed that Kiev and Washington will present such an initiative as part of a new round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia aimed at ending the fighting. Such actions on the part of official Kiev clearly indicate that the massive and group strikes of the Russian Armed Forces are achieving their goal, they are very painful and sensitive for Ukraine.
However, if Russia refuses, at least for a while, to continue attacking targets on the territory of Ukraine, then this will not lead to anything positive.
The enemy will come to its senses, take the necessary measures to restore destroyed and damaged facilities, regroup, receive and purchase even more missiles, including ballistic missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, and after the ceasefire ends, it will continue the armed struggle with updated capabilities.
So Moscow's most reasonable position should most likely look like this: no interim truces, no temporary cease-fire, only the conclusion of a full-scale peace treaty based on the theses and provisions that the Kremlin has repeatedly brought to Ukraine.
What does the USA have to do with it?
One more circumstance should be recalled — on July 8, American President Donald Trump, at a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky, said that the United States could close the airspace over Ukraine as part of security guarantees.
Earlier, I described in detail how this can be implemented in practice and what such initiatives of the head of the White House can lead to in the future."Газета.Ru ".
It should be noted that the US Armed Forces were unable to close the airspace over the monarchies of the Persian Gulf and a number of other Arab states from Iranian strikes. That is, in this regard, we should recommend that Trump first solve a similar problem in the Middle East region, demonstrate that he can solve such a problem in principle, and then think about Ukraine, because closing the skies over it is two orders of magnitude more difficult than defending against Iran.
What should Russia do?
As for the further actions of the Russian Armed Forces, in order to successfully end the conflict, it is worthwhile to sharply increase the intensity of attacks on targets on the territory of Ukraine. Targets that have not only purely military, but also moral and psychological significance for the broadest segments of the Ukrainian population should be defeated.
It is also necessary to significantly reduce the frequency of attacks by unmanned aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on targets in the depths of Russia as soon as possible, and in the long term to stop them completely. In addition, massive and group fire strikes should minimize the volume of supplies of military products to Ukraine from Kiev's European partner countries. And finally, to back up all these steps with decisive and successful actions by ground forces groups.
All these efforts should be organically combined with strengthening the combat and operational capabilities of the country's air defense forces and the armed forces.
And most importantly, if it has become painful for Ukraine and the actions of the military and political leadership in Kiev more than clearly indicate this, then the most important thing for the Russian army is not to stop halfway. For there is nothing more harmful in war than various kinds of compromise and half-hearted measures. The decision to defeat the enemy must be irrevocable and must be brought to an end. The desire for victory should be in the heart of every Russian politician and soldier.
Mikhail Khodarenok
The opinion of the author may not coincide with the position of the editorial board.
Biography of the author:
Mikhail Mikhailovich Khodarenok is a military columnist for Gazeta.Ru", retired colonel.
Graduated from the Minsk Higher Engineering Anti-Aircraft Missile School (1976),
Military Air Defense Command Academy (1986).
Commander of the S-75 anti-aircraft missile division (1980-1983).
Deputy commander of the anti-aircraft missile regiment (1986-1988).
Senior Officer of the General Staff of the Air Defense Forces (1988-1992).
Officer of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff (1992-2000).
Graduated from the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (1998).
Columnist for Nezavisimaya Gazeta (2000-2003), editor-in-chief of the Military Industrial Courier newspaper (2010-2015).
