Retired Lieutenant Common Dan Caine, U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Employees, underscored the significance of U.S. navy help for Ukraine in a Senate affirmation listening to on April 1.
Caine instructed the Senate Armed Companies Committee that Washington "ought to concentrate on what distinctive capabilities solely the U.S. can present," whereas European nations ought to enhance their share of help.
Trump tapped Caine for the highest U.S. navy put up after the dismissal of Common Charles Q. Brown Jr.
Caine, a retired Air Drive officer and a enterprise capitalist, served within the Iraq Struggle and was the affiliate director for navy affairs on the CIA between 2021 and 2024.
"From a navy standpoint, Ukraine has the suitable to self-defense, and from that standpoint our safety help helps Ukraine to defend itself," the final mentioned when requested in regards to the significance of U.S. navy support for Kyiv throughout and after the warfare.
"Our help improves Ukraine's place on the negotiating desk and deters Russia from additional aggression," he mentioned, however stressing that Washington is just a "a part of the community of states supporting Ukraine's protection."
Among the feedback stand in distinction to Trump's insurance policies, as the brand new administration has not accredited any new navy packages for Ukraine and even briefly paused protection help allotted by his predecessor, President Joe Biden. On the identical time, Trump has urged Europe to take extra duty for Ukraine's protection.
Even earlier than taking workplace, the brand new U.S. president has pledged to dealer a swift peace deal in Ukraine. Whereas Kyiv agreed to a full 30-day truce throughout talks on March 11, Moscow rejected this proposal until it included a ban on navy support for Ukraine.
Discussing what menace Moscow poses to the U.S. and its allies, Caine mentioned that Russia's standard capabilities have been strained by its warfare in opposition to Ukraine, however he warned in opposition to doable uneven actions under the "threshold of navy battle."
The retired normal additionally famous that Russian President Vladimir Putin stays dedicated to his warfare objectives, together with securing territorial good points and "forcing Ukrainian neutrality."
The Kremlin has demanded Ukraine's full withdrawal from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, the 4 partially occupied Ukrainian areas it illegally claimed as its territory.
Moscow additional demandedd a ban on Ukraine's NATO accession, with Trump additionally ruling out the potential of Kyiv becoming a member of the alliance.
Ukraine has rejected recognizing Russian occupation and restrictions on becoming a member of alliances as a part of negotiations.
"Moscow doubtless views the battle is in its favor and can proceed to prosecute the warfare in 2025 regardless of excessive casualties from continued operations," Caine mentioned.
"The battle in 2025 doubtless will proceed to be a warfare of attrition, with either side struggling heavy losses of personnel and materiel."
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
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