When this interview took place, the entire world was sure the war would be over in three days. So this retired general was not the only one. Things only changed after the Ukrainians showed they could stop the invasion of Kiev. But Germany was indeed refusing any help for a long time.
BTW - for those who are following the events, the main factor in Russian withdrawal from Kherson is.... the HIMARS supplied by the US. As I was pointing out from the beginning, the relentless and highly precise shelling of the Atonovsky and the Kachovka damb bridges using HIMARS has made adequate supplying the Russian troops on the right side of the Dnepr river basically impossible. They had the choice of an ignominious defeat a month or so from now or trying to salvage at least something by withdrawing now. The key to taking Crimea, accordingly, will be full taking out of the Kerch bridge and complete disruption (hopefully by taking some ground there) of the overland supply route. Again - HIMARS.
Yep, and by continuing to keep the Black Sea Fleet out of Sevastopol. They still have some ships there but nothing zippy. Bunch of mothball stuff.
Due credit to the military industrial complex The HIMARS was developed as a private venture by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to meet a U.S. Army requirement. The system first appeared publicly in 1993. In 1996, the U.S. Army Missile Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $23.2 million contract to build four prototypes. The vehicles were delivered to the XVIII Airborne Corps for a two-year evaluation. In July 1998, the Army conducted a test firing of the ATACMS. In December 1999, the Aviation and Missile Command awarded Lockheed Martin a $65 million contract for engineering and manufacturing development. Under this contract, Lockheed Martin delivered six HIMARs in late 2001 for Army evaluation. In April 2003, the Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $96 million contract to begin low rate initial production. Around this time, the Marine Corps placed an order for two units for evaluation purposes
Our Russian tv blowhard buddies bloviating away as usual. (see link, 2nd video down) The blowhard whose arms always look like he is in a straight-jacket. Guess who Putin exempted from mobilization? That's right state media journalists. Otherwise that blowhard there should have been sent to the front long ago if he is so ballsy. The RT babe and Olga the Iron Beaver as well. https://www.newsweek.com/putin-ally-death-penalty-deserters-traitors-russia-retreat-1758688
In Russia, children posing for the media with photos of their fathers who were killed while trying to occupy Ukraine. One seems to understand what is going on. The smiling one - wow.