When Russia annexed Crimea in February 2014, it sparked a war with Ukraine, and one of the primary issues of contention in the peace process has been who will control Crimea.
Russia has not been able to adequately secure Crimea as an operational base, and Ukraine has not been able to retake the region by force thus far.
According to an American military who spoke with Al Jazeera, Washington should fully assist Ukraine’s expected significant new campaign to retake Crimea this year.
General Ben Hodges stated, “We could be 100 percent clear to the Russians and the Ukrainians that we are 100 percent in favor of them retaking Crimea however they do it.”
He went on, saying, “Crimea is sovereign Ukraine, and if they take down the Kerch Bridge, which I do predict will happen this year, there will be no US tapping the brakes.” Before retirement, Hodges oversaw US forces in Europe and commanded US forces in Iraq and Afghanist
The sole actual physical link between Russia and Crimea is the Kerch Bridge. It travels 19 km (12 miles) from the Krasnodar Krai region to the peninsula’s easternmost point.
President Vladimir Putin of Russia officially opened it in 2018. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has served as an essential route for the movement of personnel and supplies to Russia’s southern front.