There’s a growing debate among Western policymakers about the choices they face when it comes to dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In year two of the war, Washington and its partners seem to have options ranging from escalating support, to maintaining the status quo, to focusing instead on China as a rival—the last of which was most recently proposed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. How should we think about these options?
For an in-depth military perspective, FP’s Ravi Agrawal sat down with Philip Breedlove, a retired four-star U.S. general who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe between 2013 and 2016, a period that included Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Watch or upgrade to FP Insider, our top tier subscription, to read a condensed and edited version of the transcript.
Philip Breedlove, a former Supreme Allied NATO commander, says policymakers have fallen for Putin’s rhetoric, deterring them from taking steps that would allow Ukraine to win the war.
Former NATO Commander Philip Breedlove warns that prospects for Ukraine are very bad if the war turns into a protracted conflict.
Philip Breedlove, who served as the Supreme Allied commander Europe of NATO during Russia’s takeover of Crimea, explains the peninsula’s strategic significance from a military perspective.
Gen. Philip Breedlove (Ret.)
Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe
More than one year into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow is far from achieving its war aims and Kyiv continues to vow to fight on. As the war drags on in the Donetsk region, military experts are gaming out what a prolonged conflict might look like.
How long can the two sides last? What can the world do to shape the war’s outcome?
For answers, FP’s Ravi Agrawal will sit down with retired four-star U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, who led U.S. forces in Europe and served as NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe from 2013 to 2016.
Host
Ravi Agrawal
Editor in chief, Foreign Policy
Ravi Agrawal is the editor in chief of Foreign Policy, the host of FP Live, and a regular world affairs analyst on TV and radio. Before joining FP in 2018, Agrawal worked at CNN for more than a decade in full-time roles spanning three continents, including as the network’s New Delhi bureau chief and correspondent. He has shared a Peabody Award and three Emmy nominations for his work as a TV producer, and his writing for FP was part of a series nominated for a 2020 National Magazine Award for columns and commentary. Agrawal is the author of India Connected: How the Smartphone Is Transforming the World’s Largest Democracy. He is a graduate of Harvard University.
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