Putin's aggression in Ukraine is only part of his global strategy, which also affects Israel, – former head of the CIA

“In such a situation we will find ourselves in a new world war. But we in the United States will not allow this to happen. We stood up to Hitler and we can stand up to Putin.”

“It is important that Putin does not succeed in Ukraine. Because by stopping him, we are sending messages to Xi Jinping about Taiwan, Kim Jong In about South Korea, and Supreme Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about Israel.”

Leon Panetta, ex-CIA director and US Secretary of Defense, in an interview with a Ukrainian publication LIGAnet spoke in detail about the global challenges associated with Putin's Russia.

Panetta noted that aPutin’s aggression in Ukraine is only part of his global strategy, which also affects Israel. Particularly troubling for Israeli audiences should be Russia's cooperation with Iran and support for hostile groups such as Hezbollah.

“It is extremely important for Israel to understand that Putin actively supports those who threaten your country, including Hezbollah and Iran.”,” Panetta emphasized.

He noted that close ties between Russia and Iran are contributing to increased tension in the Middle East.

Panetta also explained that Ukraine's success in its fight against Putin's aggression has global consequences, affecting not only Europe but also the Middle East. Russia is trying to undermine democracies around the world, and Ukraine is one of the first countries to fully face this threat.

“Ukraine is fighting not only for its future, but also for the security of the entire democratic world. Israel must support Ukraine because it is a fight against autocracy that threatens all free countries.” – says Panetta.

In an interview with LIGAnet, Leon Panetta, former CIA director and US Secretary of Defense, shared his views on Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as NATO and the US strategy to contain Putin. Panetta describes the mistakes that the West has made regarding Russia and emphasizes the need for decisive action to win for Ukraine and maintain international stability.

Mistakes of the West in assessing Putin

The West, according to Panetta, has not taken Putin's threats seriously for too long. Back in 2008, at the Bucharest summit, when Ukraine and Georgia did not receive an action plan for joining NATO, Russia took advantage of this to attack Georgia. Panetta states:

“For the CIA, Putin has always been an enemy whose interest is in weakening the United States and restoring the Soviet Union.”

Reaction to Russian aggression

Putin has constantly tested the West's patience since the seizure of Crimea in 2014. Russia also invaded Syria and Georgia and attacked the US electoral system, but America's response was insufficient. As Panetta notes in an interview with LIGAnet, “America is not responding strongly enough to Putin“.

Biden's strategy and support for Ukraine

Leon Panetta emphasizes NATO's important role in bringing allies together to support Ukraine. He notes the Biden administration's success in building a coalition of more than 50 countries to provide military and economic assistance to Kyiv. In his words:

“Putin thought the attack on Ukraine would weaken NATO, but it only strengthened the alliance.”

This alliance was strengthened by the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, which was a direct response to Russian aggression.

The importance of Ukraine's victory

Panetta stresses that Ukraine's success on the battlefield is key not only to containing Russia, but also to sending a clear message to other dictatorships such as China and North Korea. In his opinion, Ukraine’s victory will have global consequences:

How the US and NATO are ready to respond

Panetta noted that the United States is ready to use military force if necessary to defend NATO and contain Russia:

“The main thing is to let Putin understand that we are ready to use force.”

The US is already providing Ukraine with advanced technology and weapons, including a missile defense system similar to Israel's Iron Dome. Panetta emphasizes that to win, Ukraine needs modern weapons to push back Russian troops and regain control of its territories.

Possible global conflict scenarios

Panetta expressed concern about a possible global conflict if Russia continues its aggression. There are several points of tension in the world that could escalate into war, from the situation in Taiwan to Iranian threats to Israel.

“We live in a dangerous world, and our best tool to combat these threats is deterrence,” Panetta said.

How the US and allies are preparing for global war

The US and NATO have the most advanced technologies, including drones, cyber warfare and communications systems, to effectively counter potential threats from Russia or other autocracies. It is important to make clear to dictators that the use of force is inevitable in the event of an attack on Western allies.

“We must make it clear: you will lose this war. The best way to resist tyrannies is to strengthen yourself.”

Thus, the West's strategy is to strengthen international alliances and be prepared to use military force to deter aggression.

Russian influence on Iran and Hezbollah

Panetta also emphasized that Putin's Russia is a key ally of Iran, providing it with the necessary political and military support. This poses an additional threat to Israel. Support for Hezbollah, which receives weapons and funding from Iran, is strengthened by assistance provided by Russia.

“Israel faces increasing threats from Iran and Hezbollah, and Russia plays a significant role in this process. Ignoring this fact will cost Israel dearly in the long run.” Panetta warns.

Conclusion

Leon Panetta's LIGAnet interview clearly shows that Putin's Russia poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to Israel. Putin's close ties to Iran and support for groups such as Hezbollah are creating a new reality in which the Israeli government must consider Russia's role in regional conflicts and security strategies.