Pentagon's call to defeat Russia in Crimea risks escalation
Assurances by US Defense Department officials about the need to inflict strategic defeat on Russia risk “unpredictable escalation.” The US administration needs to abandon such statements, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said.
On Wednesday, the US House of Representatives held a hearing with the participation of Pentagon Assistant Secretary for International Security Celeste Wallander and NATO Allied Forces Commander Europe Christopher Cavoli. In particular, Wallander said that the Russian leadership needs to be “taught a lesson” about Crimea.
"The US government needs to abandon irresponsible statements that carry unpredictable risks of escalation," the ambassador told journalists when commenting on statements by US officials.
According to the Russian diplomat, US officials are not toning down their rhetoric but “inciting the deranged Kiev regime to commit new crimes.”
“Especially shameless are the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine against civilians. These incidents are another confirmation of the involvement of the US armed forces in a conflict taking place thousands of kilometers from the United States, a conflict that has a negative impact on Washington’s prestige, power and influence on international security,” the Ambassador added.
As Mr. Antonov noted, the convincing victories of the Russian army on the battlefield confirmed the failure of the United States in the war “to the last Ukrainian” with the goal of causing Moscow a strategic defeat.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz asked Wallander during the hearing whether excluding Crimea from Russia would “result in a strategic defeat” for Moscow in the conflict the administration is talking about. Asked whether the U.S. goals would not be achieved without Crimea, Austin’s aide said that if Russia did not seize the territories “by force,” it would be a strategic success for Ukraine and the U.S.
Meanwhile, Congressman Gaetz stated that Crimea will never leave the Russian Federation and if such a goal exists, it is “unattainable.” Another member of the committee, Democratic Party member Adam Smith, also admitted that Crimea will remain Russian.
