McCain fears that Russia will again focus on Ukraine after withdrawing troops from Syria
US Senator John McCain is worried that Russia will turn its resources and attention to Ukraine following the Kremlin’s announcement that the main part of Russian troops will withdraw from Syria, Glavnoe reported with reference to Ukrainian TV channel “112”.
According to McCain, Russia’s bombing campaign in Syria destroyed enough of the opposition to ensure that the al-Assad regime will stay in power.
The US Senator and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee also accused the White House of inaction throughout the war in Syria.
“The administration consoled itself with the manta that ‘war is no solution’ instead of looking at the reality,” McCain stated. He went on to explain that there is a “clear military dimension” included in any potential peace deal in Syria.
According to him, Russian intervention changed the military situation on the ground, which created more favorable conditions for the Kremlin’s own interests during a political settlement.
Instead of peace, the war in Syria will likely “grind on” and the so-called Islamic State will continue to grow in strength, the Senator predicted.
“The refugees will continue to arrive and Russia will turn their resources and attention to other places… I fear that a bloody spring is coming again to Ukraine,” McCain concluded.