For General Dominique Trinquand, Vladimir Putin is conducting a communications operation by announcing the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus while the Russian army is in trouble in Ukraine.
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Posted on 03/26/2023 20:44
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This announcement from Moscow is aimed at “getting people to react” while the Russian army is “trampling” on Dominique Trinquand (KREMLIIN/MAXPPP) in Ukraine.
“It’s about communication at a somewhat difficult time for the Russian President,” General Dominique Trinquand, former head of the French military mission to the UN, said on franceinfo this Sunday. He was responding to Ukraine’s request to urgently convene the UN Security Council in response to Moscow’s announcement that nuclear weapons would be stationed in Belarus. For Dominique Trinquand, this announcement from Moscow is intended to “make people react” while the Russian army is “trampling” in Ukraine.
franceinfo: Is Vladimir Putin bluffing or do you think he is a real threat?
General Dominique Trinquand: It’s communication. In his statement, President Putin says that the infrastructures are being completed and that he will be able to transfer the weapons so effectively that they will not be transferred. It’s about communication. I remember a little over a year ago Belarus changed its status by agreeing to have nuclear weapons when it was considered a nuclear-free country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
So do you think it’s good communication?
The main purpose of Vladimir Putin’s statement is to get us to react, which we do because as soon as we talk about nuclear power, everyone panics a little. So it’s about communication at a somewhat difficult time for the Russian President, especially as the Russian offensive falters.
On the ground, do you think Russia is still in big trouble?
Yes, of course. The country cannot make any headway in Ukraine. The army has been trampling since December. Ukraine is preparing an offensive, and I think Russia, despite everything, fears this offensive, which will probably take place at the end of spring, with Western armaments, Western-trained personnel, Western-supplied ammunition stocks and preparations, albeit only in intelligence, including from the west provided. The Ukrainians are very much supported, while the Russians are only supported by themselves. The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week also showed no signs of military support.
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