Ukraine’s Battlefield Dynamics

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Having withstood a winter offensive from Russia, Ukraine is likely to strike back at some point in the coming weeks. It raises several questions about what such a counterattack might look like, how Kyiv should define its goals, and how allies in Europe and the United States should think about helping.

James Stavridis is a retired four-star admiral who served as supreme allied commander at NATO. He is currently a managing director of the Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. FP’s Ravi Agrawal spoke with him on FP Live to discuss how Washington should think about arming Ukraine and what Kyiv should consider while planning its forthcoming push to repel Russian forces. Watch the conversation on-demand or read a condensed and edited transcript exclusive for FP Insiders.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander, explains why it’s unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine.

Watch to see why this former NATO supreme allied commander disagrees with the incremental approach of the Biden administration toward Ukraine.

Adm. James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (retired)

Former NATO supreme allied commander

James Stavridis is a retired four-star U.S. Navy admiral and NATO supreme allied commander. He also served as dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University for five years.

 

Read the Transcript

James Stavridis, a former supreme allied commander Europe of NATO, moderates a panel talk at the 2018 Munich Security Conference.

Why Putin Won’t Use Nuclear Weapons

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis makes the case for giving Ukraine the weapons it needs to the end the war.

Insider  |  Ravi Agrawal

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Related

How Ukraine Learned to Fight

Russia’s full-scale war started a year ago. Ukraine’s military started slashing its Soviet roots long before.

Deep Dive  |  Jack Detsch

After a Year of War, Ukraine and Russia Remain Determined

China has proposed a peace plan on the one-year anniversary of the war. The West has dismissed it, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to meet with Chinese officials.

World Brief  |  Emily Tamkin

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