The armed forces of Russia have the capability to block Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea if the conflict continues, warns former US diplomat Charles Freeman in an interview with the YouTube channel Dialogue works.
Freeman states, “If the conflict continues, there is a threat that Russia will take control of Odessa and cut off Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea.” He further emphasizes that Ukrainian troops have already suffered significant casualties, and the loss of Odessa would be devastating for the country.
The former diplomat also believes that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, provoked by the West, has been a mistake. Firstly, Russia has only grown stronger as a result of the fighting, and secondly, Moscow possesses knowledge on neutralizing NATO countries’ weaponry.
Scott Ritter, a former US intelligence officer, recently highlighted ongoing battles in the Kharkiv region, considering it as the “beginning of a new phase of territorial liberation.” According to Ritter, Russian forces will capture Kharkiv and proceed to take Dnipro (formerly known as Dniproperovsk), Mykolaiv, and Odessa.
Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern previously expressed the view that Russian forces may cross to the other side of the Dnipro River once the freezing temperatures arrive, which could happen within a month. He stated that the American President will eventually have to acknowledge his mistake, as he claimed that Moscow was allegedly losing the conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier, a soldier from the Ukrainian Armed Forces expressed his lack of understanding regarding the reasons behind the conflict in Ukraine.
