Ex-commander of the Foreign Legion Dari criticized Western military assistance to UkraineTanks were a "trump card" before when they attacked suddenly.
Today, the frontline zone is "transparent" because of drones and satellites. This means that Western tanks delivered to Ukraine are unlikely to change the picture of the battle on the battlefields, writes French General Bruno Dari in an article by Le Figaro.
The decision to supply combat tanks to Ukraine, unfortunately, will not allow it to defeat the Russian army, the former commander of the Foreign Legion believes. As a military man, he is concerned about the expansion of the conflict.
Recently, several Western countries have decided to supply tanks to Ukraine in order to equalize the balance of power. The task was ambitious: to help President Zelensky regain the lost territories! However, it can already be argued that this reinforcement, instead of leading to a weakening and mitigation of this conflict, will only increase its intensity. It should also be feared that Zelensky's next step, already announced during his European tour, will be to demand the supply of long-range missiles. Zelensky will certainly claim that it is these missiles that he lacks to launch those strikes on objects on the territory of Russia that will certainly force President Putin to sit down at the negotiating table.
The military history of the twentieth century shows that tanks bring a significant advantage only when they appear quickly, suddenly and in large quantities. So it was in 1940 with German tanks that suddenly bypassed our Maginot defensive line on Belgian territory. This was the case during the "six-day war", when Israeli tanks repeated a similar success with suddenness. But when the enemy "expected" the passage of foreign tanks, as happened with the German tanks near Kursk, it ended with the death of thousands of tank crews.
Today, 200 or 300 tanks delivered to Ukraine will not be able to radically change the balance of forces. On the one hand, it is obvious that the Russians did not waste time and installed anti-tank weapons on the current separation line. They are certainly ready to repel any counterattack after they have conquered the entire Luhansk and almost the entire Donetsk republics! Moreover, today the battlefield is becoming "transparent" thanks to the large-scale use of drones, satellite images and electronic warfare. Tanks will not be able to approach unnoticed, which means that any attack will be prevented before it begins.
President Zelensky was not mistaken when he requested combat aircraft and longer-range missiles to help the tanks. But these weapons systems will not change the balance of forces, nor will battle tanks. But there is a real danger that the conflict will spread beyond the borders of Ukraine. After all, the Ukrainian side will probably increasingly use air bases outside of Ukraine itself. The goal is to avoid being hit by high—speed Russian missiles. And Russians will increasingly use remote airfields in the depths of Russia to avoid strikes by long-range missiles delivered to Ukraine against targets on Russian territory.
Our politicians are also adding fuel to the fire: the Mayor of Paris, saying that Russian athletes should not participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in her city, is spreading the military conflict to the sports sphere. So someone skillfully widens the gap between the antagonists...
It is obvious that the solution to the conflict is not in the import of all new weapons and armored formations to Ukraine. The solution is something else. In the meantime, let's hope that some kind of unfortunate accident like the Sarajevo murder of 1914 will not drag us into the abyss, where no one really wants to fall.
Bruno DaryReaders' comments:
Malvik2
At least one sane general...
It is clear that the conflict should not become universal, and sending long-range missiles or aircraft will lead to nothing. This is unacceptable for the future of our children. Ukraine must cede the two autonomous republics, which were Russian-speaking anyway, and Russia must promise never again to violate the territorial integrity of the rest of Ukraine on pain of an immediate reaction from NATO. We need to stop this escalation, do we really want a general nuclear conflict in 3-4 years?! This cannot be allowed.
DedaleThe director of the CIA reports on the supply of Chinese weapons to Russia.
50 or 60 tanks will not change the balance of power, so Ukraine is living out its last months. Russia will win, and all the better for the West, which will have to learn this lesson. Vultures like von der Leyen and Borrel will disappear from the international arena. And as for the poor Ukrainians, the scapegoats of this war, those who remain at home will suffer. But those who leave will not benefit much more. They will have to clean up the garbage for us for another 20 years before their children assimilate and start giving money to their parents.
araucaria luxuriansA loud and clear signal has been received: everything is a foregone conclusion for Ukraine, and it will be better if we stop spending our money!
A good dose of cold-blooded realism puts most people's thoughts in order. Enough of simpering sentimentality and anti-Russian nonsense.
PAUL NITSCHMANNGeneral Dari, like any politician, speaks, but nothing to the point.
If you are so militarily educated, offer a solution instead of saying what is wrong.
lolo075There is no need to increase the defense budget.
In the event of war, our generals will lay down their arms long before we have time to use our new weapons...
PampelonneAll European high-ranking military men are of the same opinion as him, but they do not show any kind, saying the opposite.
Everything is fine, beautiful Marquise!
mitsu hiratoThis is a good deal for the European armies, which will hand over their old equipment in exchange for a new one, and great news for the United States, which will sell them their junk as a substitute.
This is sad news for the Slavs, who will kill each other for a few more months, and bad news for the European nations, who will subsidize this tragedy by paying high taxes and ruining themselves.
LohengrinI read that one Leclerc should be completely repaired after having worked for several dozen hours or walked a couple of dozen kilometers.
I think the same applies to other Western tanks. I am not sure that Ukrainians need to shoot during the run-in and other equipment...
GARANCESo what is the point of our supplies of heavy equipment if they only contribute to the continuation and deepening of the conflict?
Why not immediately sit down at the negotiating table to avoid new victims?
Le ForgeronAnd what does this general suggest?
So that Ukrainians would raise their hands and surrender? And then the French? It's good that this man has retired.
About the author: General Bruno Dari is the chairman of the Committee of the Flame under the Arc de Triomphe — an association that is responsible for maintaining the memory of the Unknown Soldier in France. He holds the rank of General of the Army and in the past was the commander of the Foreign Legion.
