Retired general calls ‘BS’ on Ukraine reporting problems with US-issued tanks

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today at an annual defense conference in Singapore. The two reportedly discussing the state of US aid to the Ukrainian war effort in the face of Russia’s heightened offensive over the last few months. Natasha Bertrand has more from Singapore. Jessica President Olinsky made a surprise visit to the Shangri-La Dialog in Singapore earlier today to try to rally Asian leaders around Ukraine’s fight against the Russians. But he also met here on the sidelines with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with a to discuss Ukraine’s most urgent battlefield needs at the moment, including their desperate need for additional air defense systems. But importantly, Zelinsky also wanted to take that opportunity to thank Secretary Austin, as well as President Biden, for that very important decision that the US made just last week to finally allow Ukraine to strike directly inside Russian territory in order to help defend itself against Russian strikes that are coming from just over the border of Ukraine. Inside Russia itself, a real game changer that Ukraine has been pushing the United States for for quite some time now. So Zelensky repeatedly thanked the United States for that decision. But one of the major reasons he was actually here at this forum this weekend was to speak directly to the Chinese who have been accused by the United States and by the UK of directly supporting Russia’s war effort in Ukraine by bolstering its defense sector. And Zelensky told reporters earlier today that he tried to meet with Chinese officials while he was here today, but the Chinese actually refused to meet with him. So was Wolinsky did not get everything that he wanted this week, and he did get the opportunity to speak directly to some very key Asian leaders and secure their participation and their support for this peace summit that he hopes will eventually be able to come up with a formula to finally end this war between Ukraine and Russia. Jessica. Natasha Bertrand, thanks so much. And let’s discuss those talks and more with CNN military analyst, retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling. Great to have you on this Sunday afternoon. I want to start first with with the decision that Natasha was talking about in her report, that the US will now allow Ukraine to use American munitions to carry out strikes inside Russia. Help people understand what makes that decision so impactful. Yeah, some American weapons systems, Jessica, just have to put a caveat on that because of the tactical battle in and around Kharkiv. There is a decision now by the president to allow some weapons like the high maas shooting short range artillery up to 50 to 70 kilometers away to strike targets on the other side of the border. What Mr. Zelensky is very upset about is he wants more latitude in using attack arms, missiles that have anywhere from 170 to 300 mile range. He wants to strike deeper into targets in Russia. And the president has not allowed that. So there has been the availability of some weapons to go against those Russian forces that are actually lingering on the other side of the Ukrainian border in Belarus and in Russia. And that’s a very good thing. There have been many of us who have said that should have happened a long time ago. But there is a concern, you know, the risk involved is that the Kremlin will see anything that strikes deep into Russia and it could possibly miss the target and maybe hit I mean, I’m going to give an example here, an apartment building with Russian citizens could be under an extreme provocation that the Russian leader could use to say, hey, see, I’ve been telling you all along it this is a US war. They’re using proxies to do this. They’re giving them their weapons. So that’s part of the calculus in all of this. And it’s frustrating for the Ukrainians. But truthfully, having been in these kind of meetings, I understand the risk calculation involved. And Mark, I’m going to let them know I can’t hear you. So not take that out and let the control room know. I can’t hear you what I’m hearing myself, but I’m going to keep asking you questions. I do want to ask you about what your take is on this CNN reporting this week that the US issued Abrams tanks aren’t performing well in the field in Ukraine. There’s this discussion about how they were really made for the desert and obviously Ukraine, not the desert. What do you make of that? I will say in one word that’s hyphenated. That’s B.S.. This is the initials. You know, these tanks have been basically made for a NATO environment in Europe. I was on these tanks for almost two decades, Three decades in Europe. Didn’t have some of the problems that I heard Nick Paton Walsh talk about with that tank crew. They were upset because the tank was broken down. I’ll remind folks that I said it was not the best tank to give to Ukraine because there are maintenance challenges and you have to have a highly trained crew to address some of the things. But, you know, some of the indicators they talked about like time, essentially conversation on the instruments, that’s B.S.. The fact that they that Russia knows how to hit these tanks, it didn’t have enough armor. That’s the piece that they couldn’t clear would lines or they would shoot multiple rounds in a building and it wouldn’t explode. I know for a fact having fired these vehicles and having been a tank for all my life, that this is a crew that’s not either selecting the right weapons system or isn’t maintaining their tanks very well. Now, at the same time, I’ll say this, Jessica, that whenever you get two disgruntled tankers on a tank that’s broken down, 38, they’re going to give you every reason why it doesn’t work and how this piece of crap is something that they shouldn’t have. But remember, Ukraine continued to ask for these vehicles even though they knew that there was a high maintenance standard to keep them running. And I also want to ask you about the fact that President Zelensky tried to meet with Chinese officials while he was at this event. They didn’t take him up on that offer. Do you think that there is any pathway there for them to have some success appealing to the Chinese, even though the Chinese and Russia have been quite cozy at this point? In my view, Jessica, I’m not a Chinese expert, but I do know a little bit about the Chinese. No chance in the world. He is not going to persuade President Xi, who is very stoic and who is, in fact, supporting the Russians to switch over to the Ukrainian side because he knows that he wants to keep this. I believe President Xi wants to keep this war going on because it involves both Russia and the United States in this action. But it will be difficult for him to support Ukraine. The good thing is presidents, unless he was able to persuade, I think, several other Asian nations to provide support to the Ukrainian cause. And that’s been something that’s been important as well. All right, Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, always good to have you on. Thanks so much. Thanks, Jessica.

CNN military analyst Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (ret.) reacts to reports that claim Ukrainian troops are reporting issues with US-issued Abrams tanks in their ongoing war with Russia. #CNN #News
Want to stay up to date on the day’s top stories? Sign up for CNN’s 5 Things newsletter, and we’ll give you the 5 biggest stories you need to know, videos people are watching, and more!
Sign up here: https://www.cnn.com/newsletters/5-things?source=nl-acq_social_youtubedesc&utm_source=nl-acq_social_youtubedesc

39 comments

  1. China has been proclaimed a treat to white civilization, so they are not your friends, they can deal with who ever they want. Russia and China are dear friends . To operate any type of NATO equipment is a death sentence to the Ukrainians, because you know the Russians will prioritize it for destruction, plus NATO tanks stand out like sore thumbs, being huge and box shaped.

  2. Very ungrateful Ukrainians. You should never be dismissive of American technologies and its superior capabilities… on paper. Now Zelensky would have to beg for forgiveness from Americans.

  4. Very important fact mentioned here – Chinese officials would not meet with Zelensky. Are they afraid of Zelensky?

  5. I remember being at NTC & us having to pull all the packs on all the Abrams. I was an FSB mechanic…

    Tankers don't "maintain their vehicles". Mechanics do.

    I can't speak to the weapons systems, but they are highly effective tanks when they have a dedicated FSC squad of mechanics supporting them….

  6. If Ukrain attack deep inside Russia they will attack target inside western countries and it is not clear what will happen next

  9. He is worried about tanks, when so many expensive weapons gps were jammed? I demand that the corporation's whose weapons are jammed fix it immediately! It is software for goodness sake. WTF useless weapons are basically tax payer theft.

  10. we told Ukraine from the beginning that the support chain for the Abrams was huge. So many people who are not in the tank need to be trained to maintain them. We should have just bought Leopards and given them to Ukraine.

  11. I would like to note, the Abrams we gave to Ukraine had a different "export-approved armor package" and i BELIEVE a different "export-approved sensor suite" as well (double check me on the 2nd one). We stripped out the best stuff we use and put in off the shelf export grade stuff. This means the Ukrainians LITERALLY got downgraded tanks. Just food for thought

  15. 4:20 This is the moronic comments you get from cowardly reporter civilians who have never served in the military, let alone combat arms and have no idea what they are talking about.

  19. We've learned that the Ukrainians are now the best fighting force on the planet. If they give feedback on certain weapons, listen.

  21. These U. S. restrictions smell like Europe's fear of Hitler escalating his advancement beyond a few Eastern European countries, prior to his attack on Poland. Keep in mind the U. K. Prime Minister was fired. How can you win a war if you can't attack his kitchen?

  22. US tanks are good tanks but in Palestine they are rolling onto hospital churches and refugee camps but they are nothing compared to Russian

  23. I remember a couple of years ago, Ukraine particularly wanting Leopard tanks because they were lighter and more maneuverable in Ukrainian terrain, the Abrams were much heavier and required more fuel and maintenance, which was why the Abrams weren't recommended in the first place. In war, maintenance and service parts may be scarce, as well as the time mechanics need to repair.

  25. Maybe this ass could tell Americans how president Z cancelled presidential elections. There for his term is up and he is an illegitimate president. Actually staying in office and not leaving . Term is up last week. And they warn us of TRUMP doing this in the future ? Joe Biden is giving billions to This crap. Come on…. Democracy my ass.

  28. Some weapons??? American cowardice, ridiculous in the extreme, Russia attacks civilian targets in Ukraine every single day

  30. Good for President. Zelenskyy, openly reaching out to China and other Asian countries at the Shangri-La Defence summit ! Even if China refuses to meet with him, it shows where they stand – partnered with Russia. As to other Asian countries, I think it's a good diplomatic move, for Zelenskyy to meet face to face and be heard as well as discuss other opportunities to engage.

  32. The former General should see photos of M-1 tanks blown to pieces by little Rushky grenade drones, and learn how careful they have to be to not get their 100 ton asses stuck in the mud. He is stuck in the past, within ten years there will be no manned main battle tsnks because we will be using automated ones far smaller, far better armed, filled with shells instead of crews to be incinerated. The Marines got rid of their tanks long ago. A pig like an Abrahms or T-90 are too fat for many streets in Europe, and have a life of twin-digit seconds in Urban Warfare. In Combat we were told it was estimated at less than 10 minutes way back in the 1990s.
    Diapered Donald demanded 1000 M-1s for a Commie-Sryle parade in D.C., but learned of less than 2000 total most were deployed overseas, and less than half are combat ready. Tell the General the Pentagon said they could not be driven in D.C. because they would break through city pavement, and get stuck in the swampy ground.
    This clown thinks ancient B-52 bombers slower than a 747 with 400 tourists and a full load, carrying old cruise missiles no faster are a match for Russian swing-wing wonders that can outfly our best fighters. The clown even claims a war-criminal mob of 300,000 cowardly conscripts set on Gaza's native Civilian caotives in a walled-in Prison that cant beat a tiny Resistance armed with only AK-47s & RPGs in 8 months of war crimes are a "great Army".
    The man is retired for a reason. He remembers slipping in horsecrap marching behind the Cavalry with a Musket, and despite having only a history of warfare against third-world countries thinks he knows more than modern tank commanders against an Army as good as ours. We got chased out of Afghanistan just like Russia did!
    I'm a Patriot, but know propaganda never helps when you have to fight. He should pay attention to what men fighting an actual Army say about our tanks, not insult them from an Armchair while soaking his dentures.

  33. American tanks didn't work in Iraq or Afghanistan either. Our general officers are just Raytheon and Lockheed salesmen. General Hertling is full of BS. Typical West Point graduate, wrong. When was the last time a West Point grad got something right? 1945?

  36. Oh please…we’re still scared of Russian escalation? What are they gonna do? Attack NATO use a nuke? Hilarious…Putin isn’t an idiot he knows good and well the second he provokes NATO into direct combat with his military it’s a war he can’t win. Putin and cronies are nothing more than mouthpieces

  38. Nobody wanted Abrams they're dogshit. They wanted Leopards. America may spend the most but at the end of the day it's still Americans making this stuff and that's why it's awful. American manufacturing is some of the worst

Leave a Reply