Putin’s War: Ukraine’s Valor, Russia’s Failures & the Battles Still to Come
About the Event:
Many thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, numerous cities have been obliterated, and Putin has raised the specter of nuclear war for the first time in decades. But the worst of Russia’s war on Ukraine, and its global impacts, may still be yet to come.
Putin has appointed a new overall commander for the war, who is best known for overseeing Russia’s merciless campaign in Syria with large scale and indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets. After significant losses and a failed attempt to capture Kyiv and topple the government, Russia is amassing tens of thousands of troops for a presumed, new major offensive to seize more territory in the East.
The U.S. and its NATO allies have supplied large amounts of certain weapons; and Ukraine’s military has fought intensely and bravely across the country inflicting substantial casualties on Russia’s invading armies. Ukrainian courage and tactics proved to be quite successful in wooded areas in the North and urban environments. But with fighting shifting to more open expanses in the East and more options for Russia tanks and armor to fight in conventional methods, experts caution that Ukrainian forces and their limited weaponry may be overpowered.
Jeffrey Edmonds is the former Director for Russia on the National Security Council; and he served for over two decades as a CIA military analyst and a U.S. Army intelligence officer focusing on threats posed by Russia. He will discuss: what intelligence agencies anticipate for Russia’s next offensives; why and how Ukrainians have been such a powerful fighting force; if the West’s military support for Ukraine may expand; and how the war is realigning not just Europe, but may represent the start of a New Cold War Order.
About the Speaker:
Edmonds served as the Director for Russia on the National Security Council and acting Senior Director for Russia during the 2017 presidential transition. While on the NSC, he advised the president and his senior staff on Russia-related national security topics including the Ukraine and Syria crises, Russian military, foreign policy, threat perceptions, and information operations. Edmonds was also the lead director during a review of the United States policy towards Russia, culminating in a presidentially approved strategy that had global impact.
Prior to the NSC, Edmonds served as a military analyst with the Central Intelligence Agency, covering Eurasian militaries. He has served in the U.S. Army on both active duty and the reserves for 22 years, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.