German defense official: Putin controls nothing

The Ukrainian military’s daring operation into Kursk proves that Putin has lost control and their success can form the basis of future negotiations with the autocrat’s successor, said Marcus Faber, a Bundestag member and chair of the German Bundestag’s defense committee.

“The progress [of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kursk Oblast – ed.] shows the Russian population that their dictator controls nothing and that the military leadership is overwhelmed. This is a good basis for peaceful negotiations with Putin’s successor, as well as for negotiations with Putin before the International Criminal Court,” Faber has written.

He noted how the advance of Ukrainian troops against Russian occupation forces near Kursk is making stunning gains: “[The actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces – ed.] are forcing Russia to withdraw a significant number of troops from the front in eastern Ukraine. This eases tension on this section of the front. It’s a reason to talk about more Leopard 2 tanks,” he further hinted.

Faber also emphasized his view that military aid to Ukraine is the best investment in Germany and European security. “[Our aid – ed.] reduces the potential of the Russian threat daily and protects Ukraine’s civilian population from being forced to flee. Putin’s mouthpieces in Germany may now realize this too,” he concluded. 

It was on August 6, that official Russian sources reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces were undertaking a new offensive into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, taking the enemy by complete surprise. As of the morning of August 12, the aggressor state admitted that Ukrainian forces have pushed on dramatically and ongoing hostilities on Russian territory covers an area of some 720 square kilometers, which has increased by 70 km² in a single day.