Former general Mart de Kruif on chances for peace in Ukraine and conflict between US and China

In this episode, Paul Buitink talks to Mart de Kruif about the war in Ukraine. Mart is a former commander of the Land Forces and has his own podcast "de Veldheren podcast" together with retired general Peter van Uhm.

Couldn't this war have been prevented? How does Mart view NATO's eastward expansion, the violation of the Minsk agreements and the breakdown of the peace negotiations in March 2022? Mart emphasizes that Russia has been expanding its boundaries for years.

They also discuss the current situation at the front. Paul asks about the state of the armed forces in the Netherlands and whether we in Europe have not become too dependent on the US.

Finally, Paul asks whether negotiations should not be steered towards negotiations now that a stalemate seems to have arisen on the front. According to Mart, the key lies with the US and China, which are the only ones who can force Ukraine and Russia to negotiate. Mart also sees a possible conflict between the US and China as a major global challenge.