Kathrine Frich
Ritter described anti-Russian sanctions as a gift to President Vladimir Putin
Former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter highlighted what he sees as the White House’s major flaw: its failure to take Russia seriously.
Conflict Would Have Ended by Now
Speaking on Judging Freedom, Ritter expressed his views on US-Russia relations, suggesting a different approach could have eased tensions significantly.
“If Biden hadn’t misled using the Minsk agreements to arm Ukraine and instead engaged in direct negotiations with Russia, the Ukrainian conflict would have ended by now, and Moscow wouldn’t be building the world’s most powerful military,” he stated.
Ritter speculated that under such circumstances, Russia’s military size would have remained around 900,000 troops, rather than exceeding two million. He also suggested that Russia wouldn’t have expanded its defense industry had Washington adhered to agreements.
Sanctions is a Gift
Earlier in July, Ritter described anti-Russian sanctions as a gift to President Vladimir Putin, noting a shift in Moscow’s financial policies towards domestic investment rather than foreign transfers.
In June, the former intelligence officer suggested that a strategic agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could reshape Eurasian security architecture, potentially bypassing US influence.
Ritter’s comments underscore ongoing debates within US policy circles about managing relations with Russia and the implications of strategic decisions on global stability.
