Ukraine becomes battleground for main actors in Syrian issue
WASHINGTON, US (North Press) – Despite NATO’s reluctance to pledge to Russia not to join Ukraine within its ranks, Kiev realizes that its chances of joining NATO are slim to none. Consequently, Kiev will not obtain the Article 5 privilege, which provides the members defensive and security advantages in case they are attacked.
Accordingly, Kiev is looking for alternative military solutions through which it can protect its territory, and to make it difficult for Moscow to annex more Ukrainian parts after Moscow invaded the Crimea in 2014.
Despite the partial military and moral support given to Kiev by the West, it realizes that it is in an unenviable position, especially since the opponent here is the Russian army, which is the second most powerful army in the world, while the Ukrainian army ranks 21st.
In addition to the tons of free weapons provided by the US and Britain to Ukraine, Kiev is turning to Ankara to buy more Bayraktar TB2 armed drones, through which Kiev managed last October to fight Russian-backed separatist groups. Turkey’s Bayraktar destroyed a Russian howitzer at the end of last year which raised the fears of Russia and the groups it backs inside Ukraine.
As Ukraine realizes that it is not possible for the Turkish drones to make it militarily superior to the Russian military giant, they, (the drones) constitutes a painful pressure on Russia and the forces supported by it. The Turkish drones plus the American and British weapons, sustain Russia heavy losses, which makes Moscow think carefully before starting a new round of military clash in Ukraine.
In a phone call in December 2021 with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Kiev for deploying Turkish-made drones in its conflict with pro-Moscow separatists.
Putin, according to a Kremlin transcript of the call, said Kiev was aiming to disrupt peace agreements in eastern Ukraine, with “provocative” military action, “including the use of Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles,” which are produced by Turkey.
In December 2021, Russia moved tens of thousands of soldiers nearby Ukrainian as saying it will be forced to act if Western powers do not stop military cooperation with its neighbors.
Moscow demands a block on NATO membership for Ukraine and the withdrawal of US and other allied soldiers from Eastern Europe.
However, Ukraine and the US accuse Russia that it may be preparing an invasion of Ukraine in the coming period.