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"Deepening predicament" - Russia spends almost 40 percent of public spending on defense | Online news
Heikki Hakala

In the opinion of Admiral Tony Radakin, the commander of the British armed forces, the war of aggression that lasted almost two years and was tinged with constant setbacks should have been enough to teach Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian people will never submit to their country drifting back into Russia's sphere of influence.

- Irrespective of the ongoing losses to international stability, Ukraine and his own people, President Putin continues, Admiral Radakin states in his annual review previously presented at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).

He admits that Ukraine's counterattack was more modest than expected and that Russia's defense turned out to be stronger than expected. At the same time, however, he reminds that Ukraine tries to avoid unnecessary losses, unlike Putin, for whom the loss figures of his own forces seem to be somewhat indifferent.

- Talks about a "stalemate" or that the prolongation of the war would be in Russia's interest are far too superficial. Russia's plight is not given enough weight. Ukraine's success is not talked about enough. And Putin is not a grand master of strategy, says Radakin.
Russia is in no way equal to NATO

When Putin sought to blackmail the West with energy supplies, the response was to reduce dependence. According to Radakin, the disruption of food supplies and the reckless threats of nuclear weapons have also turned against Putin.

- And now the International Criminal Court has issued a wanted notice for him. He has suffered the shock and humiliation of the coup attempt. Crimea is no longer safe. The Black Sea fleet is in pieces. He needs to keep 400,000 troops in Ukraine to keep what he has captured, Radakin says.

- He is more and more like a prisoner for a reason that he himself has caused. His first disastrous mistake was to invade Ukraine, and now he is about to make another catastrophic mistake: Russia's economy is falling into ever-deepening distress. Almost 40 percent of all public spending in Russia is spent on military spending. That's more than healthcare and education combined. The last time we saw a similar level was when the Cold War ended and the Soviet Union collapsed, Radakin states.

- This is a disaster for Russia and its people. It stands in contrast to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who speaks of a "new" Ukraine - a country like its heroes - a country on the way to NATO and EU membership. The country represents everything that Russia is not: it is confident, dynamic, democratic, innovative and open to the world. A country respected by the international community. A country with a future, Radakin emphasizes.

He reminds that the combined gross domestic product of NATO member countries is 20 times larger than that of Russia. According to him, the total strength of the NATO countries' armed forces is about 3,000,000 soldiers, not including reserves.

- It is absurd to think that Russia would be equal to NATO in any respect. If we stay united and stick to it, Russia will lose and Ukraine will win.