RASC News Agency: In a report by “The Telegraph”, a former senior White House advisor has asserted that the “chaotic and erroneous” withdrawal of American forces under President Joe Biden from Afghanistan has emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin to decide on an invasion of Ukraine. Eric Green, a former senior advisor on Russia, expressed this view in the context of CIA Director Bill Burns’ mission to Moscow, which aimed to persuade the Kremlin against military action in Ukraine.
Green noted, “Moscow officials, following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, believed that Washington would hesitate to support Kyiv, thereby reinforcing Putin’s belief that invading Ukraine would be an uncomplicated endeavor.” This observation aligns with insights from Bob Woodward, the prominent American journalist known for uncovering the Watergate scandal. In his latest book, Woodward states that Putin interpreted the collapse of Afghanistan security forces as a clear indication of the United States’ diminishing commitment to its allies.
In “War”, Woodward elaborates that the American delegation, led by Burns, concluded after leaving Moscow that Putin had firmly resolved to pursue his military plans. Notably, during a November 2021 phone conversation, Burns cautioned Putin that the United States was fully aware of Russia’s military intentions and that any aggressive actions would elicit severe economic sanctions.
Nevertheless, the book reveals that at that time, Putin dismissed Ukraine as a legitimate entity, referring to it as “a non-existent country,” while labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as an illegitimate leader. Ultimately, Woodward emphasizes that the efforts of the United States and its allies to convince Putin to withdraw from his military ambitions were unsuccessful, culminating in the commencement of the largest ground conflict in Europe since World War II.
