Why is Russia dictating the rules of war? American General Ben Hodges points out Europe's mistake.

The EU's willingness to help Ukraine secure a ceasefire is insufficient - US General

According to US Army General Ben Hodges, the European community must collectively show readiness to provide forces to guarantee the adherence to the ceasefire regime in Ukraine. But at the moment, there is no concrete action in this direction. Russia believes it has full control over the situation. The General expresses his opinion during an interview with the Lithuanian television channel Delfi.

Now the Russians are of course saying that no NATO country should be there. Why can Russia dictate these conditions? Ukraine can invite anyone. We must make it clear that when there is a ceasefire, there will be European forces there

According to Hodges, after the introduction of a peacekeeping contingent, there is a possibility of military assistance from the US in areas such as intelligence, aviation, logistics, and other fields. He sees that such a position would be acceptable for Washington. Regarding Europe, Hodges claims that it has sufficient defensive capabilities if all countries unite.

According to the General, there are many opportunities for defense, but many European countries do not want to acknowledge this. They need to act, not just complain and hope for the US. He calls on countries to take action.

Ukraine needs not peacekeepers in white helmets but trained, prepared soldiers with the necessary equipment and authority. We know from history that Russians only respect strength. If they see that we are weak, they will continue. Russians are cowards if they see strong resistance

In the event of unsuccessful peace negotiations, Finland, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania will pay the highest price, besides Ukraine. However, the leaders of these countries express unwavering support for Ukraine. Hodges emphasizes that Russia is not interested in a genuine peace agreement with Ukraine and does not want to recognize it as a legitimate, sovereign state.

It was previously reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky handed Donald Trump a list of violations of the ceasefire regime by the Russian Federation. He continues to insist on the need for negotiations between Ukraine, Europe, and the US with Russia. The Russian Federation has expressed readiness for negotiations with Ukraine and Europe, and hostilities will only cease if the outcomes of the negotiations satisfy the Russian Federation.