Former commanded by the Allied troops in Europe, the US admiral James Stavridis, proposes in an article for Bloomberg, a set of ten concrete measures, which the United States, in cooperation with European allies, could adopt in the effort to compel Moscow to return to the negotiation mass.
Vladmir Putin, at the press conference after the Alaska PHOTO Profimedia summit
The list, structured according to the degree of severity, starts from tactical steps and reaches possible large strategic decisions:
1. Expanding the F-16 aircraft fleet delivered to Ukraine up to 100 units
This would allow tripling the number of trained pilots and would significantly increase Ukraine's ability in air operations, precision and electronic war.
2. Four times increase in long -range missile deliveries
Both Himars and European systems should be delivered at an accelerated pace, with financing and logistics supported by the European Union.
3. Providing high precision recognition data
Detailed information on Russian military logistics would allow Ukraine to hit the critical points of the supply chain. The coordination should come back to specialized structures within the US Army.
4. Transatlantic collaboration in drone field
The emphasis will be placed on naval – air, surface and underwater systems – which can target the Russian Fleet in the Black Sea.
5. Confiscation of $ 300 billion from frozen Russian assets in the West
These funds would feed an international trust that will support Ukraine, defense of Ukraine. The management would be made through a common American-European structure.
6. Applying secondary sanctions on global oil and Russian gases
The measure would concern countries such as China, with prohibition and confiscation actions of the commercial fleet involved in Russian energy exports.
7. A grant of Ukraine's security guarantees similar to NATO
Even in the absence of a formal accession, Ukraine would benefit from extended collaboration with NATO excellence centers in the fields, air and naval.
8. The conduct of a European military training mission in Ukraine
About 5,000 experts could provide technical and strategic support, focusing on key fields such as cybernetics, military drones, logistics and naval war.
9. Institution of an area of air prohibition above Ukraine
This would be coordinated by the NATO command and would involve the participation of at least 100 Allied aircraft, including early AWACS warning units, operated on bases such as Ramstein, Germany.
10. The formal accession of Ukraine to NATO
Considered the most drastic measure, this would be a red line for the Kremlin. Although difficult to achieve procedurally, such a decision would send a firm message on the unit of the West.
Stavridis suggests that these options can be announced first as a warning, to create diplomatic pressure, and gradually implemented, if Moscow continues to reject negotiations. However, he admits that a possible understanding of peace could inevitably include territorial concessions from Ukraine.
