Russia continues its unprovoked attack on Ukraine, facing sanctions and condemnations from many countries and fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces as a result. According to the US, Russia has failed to achieve its goals when it invaded Ukraine.
Speaking at the White House Tuesday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Russia has failed to achieve the three objectives it had when it invaded Ukraine back in February. Sullivan explained that Russia planned to sow division in the West, take control of Ukraine, and bolster Russia’s prestige and power in the world, when dictator Vladimir Putin ordered a “military operation.” Sullivan noted that the opposite of what Russia wanted to achieve happened instead.
“Russia has thus far manifestly failed to accomplish all three objectives. In fact, it has thus far achieved the opposite,” said Sullivan, noting that the Ukrainian forces have resisted and refused to surrender.
“Although Russia may take more territory in these brutal military operations, it will never take the country away from the Ukrainian people,” added Sullivan. Despite the fierce resistance from Ukraine, Sullivan predicted that the violence may only worsen over time as the conflict continues.
While Washington has asserted that Russia’s invasion is unsuccessful so far, Putin claimed that the invasion was going according to plan.
Sullivan’s comments come as US President Joe Biden is traveling to Europe this week to meet with allies and discuss any additional sanctions that would be imposed on Russia. Biden will travel to Brussels for an emergency NATO summit, followed by meeting with his counterparts of the G7 countries and addressing the European Union at a session of the European Council.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the alliance has agreed to send more assistance to Ukraine, including equipment that could help Ukraine defend itself against possible chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats from Russia.
“Any use of chemical weapons would totally change the nature of the conflict, and it would be a blatant violation of international law and have far-reaching consequences,” said Stoltenberg. The NATO chief did not say whether the use of such weapons would become a red line that would bring NATO into the conflict.