Blinken: Russian Military Now 'Second-Strongest in Ukraine'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Helsinki, Finland, on Friday, June 2, said Russia’s war against Ukraine had exposed massive shortcomings in its military and had diminished Russia’s power and influence “for years to come.”

Blinken made the remarks at Helsinki City Hall during what was the first visit of a US secretary of state to Finland since its accession to NATO on April 4.

In the speech, Blinken discussed the international response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland’s subsequent decision to join NATO, and yearslong efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin to weaken Western alliances and position Russia as a “global economic power” – efforts Blinken said had been a “strategic failure.”

“President Putin spent two decades trying to build Russia’s military into a modern force, with cutting-edge weaponry, streamlined command, and well-trained, well-equipped soldiers,” Blinken said. "The Kremlin often claimed it had the second-strongest military in the world, and many believed it. Today, many see Russia’s military as the second-strongest in Ukraine. Its equipment, technology, leadership, troops, strategy, tactics and morale: a case study in failure – even as Moscow inflicts devastating, indiscriminate, and gratuitous damage on Ukraine and Ukrainians.

“Russia is estimated to have suffered more than 100,000 casualties in the last six months alone, as Putin sends wave after wave of Russians into a meat grinder of his own making,” he said.

“Meanwhile, sanctions and export controls imposed by the United States, the European Union, and other partners around the world have extremely degraded Russia’s war machine and defense exports, setting them back for years to come. Russia’s global defense partners and customers can no longer count on promised orders, let alone spare parts, and as they witness Russia’s poor performance on the battlefield, they are increasingly taking their business elsewhere,” Blinken said. Credit: US Department of State via Storyful

Video Transcript

ANTONY BLINKEN: President Putin spent two decades trying to build Russia's military into a modern force with cutting-edge weaponry, streamlined command, and well-trained, well-equipped soldiers. The Kremlin often claimed it had the second strongest military in the world, and many believed it.

Today, many see Russia's military as the second strongest in Ukraine. Its equipment, technology, leadership, troops, strategy, tactics, and morale, a case study in failure, even as Moscow inflicts devastating, indiscriminate, and gratuitous damage on Ukraine and Ukrainians. Russia is estimated to have suffered more than 100,000 casualties in the last six months alone, as Putin sends wave after wave of Russians into a meat grinder of his own making.

Meanwhile, sanctions and export controls imposed by the United States, the European Union, and other partners around the world have severely degraded Russia's war machine and defense exports, setting them back for years to come. Russia's global defense partners and customers can no longer count on promised orders, let alone spare parts. And as they witness Russia's poor performance in the battlefield, they are increasingly taking their business elsewhere.