By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The status of Crimea today has become even less certain than it was before the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion, British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has said.
"Russia does have more weapons but they haven’t used them very well. Now, here we are in November, this has been going for longer than six months, and Putin hasn’t achieved one of his strategic objectives. He doesn’t have Kyiv, he doesn’t have Odesa, he hasn’t been able to take all of these. Crimea is looking a little bit uncertain; Crimea is actually less certain than it was before this started. None of those sounds to me like a win. Of course, appalling things are still happening and Ukrainians are still losing their lives, and people are without water, and people are without electricity. But none of that actually makes much difference to Putin in terms of what he wants to happen inside Ukraine," Simmons said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
So the ambassador answered the question, which gives her reason to believe that Ukraine will completely defeat Russia and return its territories.
Simmons said the Armed Forces of Ukraine proved to be not only resolute, not just resilient, but also incredibly dexterous.
"And the Russian Armed Forces are literally the opposite of agile. Ukrainians know their terrain and have made a study of their enemy. Russians know this terrain a lot less well and are refusing to make a study of their enemy," she said.
The British Ambassador said that it’s not just a matter of size and capability, it’s also a question of wile and brains.
"And then, of course, there is the question for every Ukrainian I ever ask, who say they don’t have a choice. Russians have a choice, they can stop tomorrow and go back home. Ukrainians if they stop, that’s it, that’s the country gone," Simmons said.
