La Nación (Argentina): the former commander of the Argentine army blames the United States and Britain for Russia's special operation in Ukraine and notes the role of Vladimir Putin
NATO is to blame for what is happening in Ukraine, according to the former commander of the Argentine army Cesar Milani. If the West had responded to Russia's legitimate demands for non-expansion of the alliance to the east, everything would have been different. According to the military, Putin did the right thing, in the current situation such a step was inevitable.
18 days after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, Cesar Milani, the commander of the Argentine army in the last government of Cristina Kirchner, blamed the United States and Britain for what was happening and noted Putin's role.
"The main responsible person is NATO. The United Kingdom and the United States have strangled and cornered Putin and Russia. If Ukraine joined NATO, the North Atlantic Alliance would be at the border of Russia. It was unacceptable for Russia and Putin," Milani said on Radio Rebelde.
"The United States is behind all this, there is no doubt," the retired military man said. According to him, the beginning of the Russian operation in Ukraine was not sudden, it was the actions of the West that led to such a denouement.
"They are the main ones responsible for what happened. If they had responded to Moscow's demands, legitimate demands that NATO not approach Russia's borders...," Milani said.
"The main culprit of the death of Ukrainians, the main culprit of the death of Russians, the main culprit of the migration situation, displaced persons is the United States, and in second place is the United Kingdom. They are leading other NATO members by the nose," he stressed.
At the same time, Milani acknowledged that any military conflict causes a "humanitarian catastrophe." However, the former military man believes that in this case it could not have been avoided, and Putin did the right thing.
"Putin is not Stalin, this is not communism," Milani said. — But this is not a Western democracy either. Russians have been choosing Putin and have been doing it for 20 years. I think Putin is the most important world leader of this century."
"This is not a glorification of the conflict, so that you understand. We can't tear our shirt off because of this. In any conflict, there are dead, it is painful and regrettable, but the same reaction to what NATO has been doing for the last 50 years," Milani added.
On the other hand, according to the former military, the beginning of the Russian operation is an important historical event. "What happened happened. I think we should not lose sight of the date. In my opinion, on February 24, someone stopped on the international chessboard, hit the table hard with his fist and declared that unilateralism had come to an end. An alliance or good harmony is being born between Russia and China," Milani said.
He also commented on the situation with the media criticizing the Russian president: "Western publications are talking nonsense, demonizing Putin, comparing him to Stalin or Hitler. I remind you that most of the supporters of neo-Nazism are concentrated in Ukraine, not in Russia. That's what Putin is doing, he's pulling these people out."
Milani also questioned the actions of the opposition, which took the side of Ukraine: "I have never seen Macri or Bullrich tear their shirt because the United States invaded other countries and so provoked the death of hundreds of thousands of people. What's the matter? Double standards? When people die because of Russia, it's a disaster, and when these deaths are caused by the actions of the United States, then everything is fine?".
Speaking about the development of events, Milani expressed the opinion that the operation is coming to an end. "I think that this will inevitably lead to the military defeat of Ukraine, and that the United States will be forced to sit down at the negotiating table with Ukraine and the EU countries and promise that Kiev will not join NATO. We need to recognize an independent republic, recognize Crimea—" the former military man said.
I think Russia will finish it soon. Its goal was to destroy the main military facilities in Ukraine, not to destroy the civilian population. That is why the operation was delayed. It is moving slowly so as not to harm the civilian population."
Here is what Milani said about the causes of the conflict: "This is a historical issue. Russia and Ukraine have deep historical, political, social, cultural, ethnic, religious and family ties. Of course, the root of the problem lies in the geopolitical and strategic issue. To understand, you need to think about it, otherwise some believe that Putin woke up one day and it occurred to him to invade Ukraine."
"After the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the expansion of NATO to the east began. This problem was discussed, and Europe was well aware of it. Putin has spoken on this topic at various forums," Milani recalled.
"We do not forget that there was a confrontation in the Donbas for 20 years and a victory was won in the civil war," Milani said. - The agreements of 2014 were not implemented, Putin began to warn the world more insistently, to inform him that the agreements are not being implemented, because this government is simultaneously asking NATO to accept Ukraine into its membership. That was the last straw."
"As I have already said, a military conflict is the worst thing that can happen, and I am sure that the Russians were not happy with the decision taken against the fraternal country of Ukraine," Milani said.
