On June 5, a lecture entitled "The Current Situation, Strategic Approaches to Overcoming russian Aggression, and Prospects for Ending the War" was held at the National University of Ostroh Academy. The speaker was Ben Hodges, a retired US Army Lieutenant General and a Senior Advisor to 'Human Rights First'.
The meeting was moderated by Eduard Balashov, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Full Professor, and Assistant Rector for International Cooperation and Fundraising of the NaUOA.
The Rector of Ostroh Academy, Doctor of Science (Psychology), Full Professor Ihor Pasichnyk, delivered a welcoming speech:
"I welcome you to Ukraine's oldest yet youngest educational institution – Ostroh Academy. It is a great honour to welcome you to our university today and to listen to your lecture. Ben Hodges is a true military legend of the United States Army. We wish you success in your first lecture and hope that we will soon be able to meet in person."
During the event, participants discussed the current situation in Ukraine and the world; how civilian administration should determine strategic outcomes; the importance of a strategic approach to the Greater Black Sea region; the outcomes of the war; and the prospects for the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
The most important quotes from Mr Ben Hodges' lecture are as follows:
- "This war is the result of what we call failed deterrence. It is about how we in the West, and also Ukraine, but especially in the West, failed to react strongly after Russia invaded Georgia. We failed to react strongly after Russia supported the Assad regime using chemical weapons against their own people in Syria. And we did not respond strongly after russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and illegally annexed Crimea, and the start of the conflict in Donbas."
- "I do get accused by people of being too optimistic sometimes about the situation with the war in Ukraine. However, I am confident that the country will definitely prevail. We know from history that war is a test of will, and it is a test of logistics. You are defending your country, your home. Ukrainians are united by a common idea. The Russians lack motivation because they are not on their own territory; they are unsure of the invasion's value and purpose."
- The Ukrainian governmental administration, in particular President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, an alumnus of Ostroh Academy and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are doing an incredible job. I am impressed by the speed with which the Ukrainian military is mastering new technologies and weapons. This gives Ukrainian troops the ability to destroy russian logistics while improving their own in cooperation with allies.
- Ukraine will join NATO. I am already hearing many optimistic opinions about this possibility, but this path will not be quick. Is it possible to find an alternative to NATO membership for Ukraine or to accept it into the alliance? This is probably the issue that will be discussed most at the NATO summit in Vilnius. It is essential not to repeat the mistake made at the Bucharest summit and to send a clear signal to Ukraine.
Olha Balatska, Candidate of Science, Associate Professor, Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations and National Security, noted:
"Ostroh Academy is the first institution in Ukraine where Ben Hodges gave such a lecture. It is highly valuable that he showed interest in our university and hosted educational events for the academic community. Educational institutions are among the front lines in overcoming Russian armed aggression. Today was the first event under our cooperation. We look forward to our next meetings. Thank you, Ben Hodges, for such an interesting and informative lecture."
At the end of the meeting, Ben Hodges emphasised that he admires Ukrainian educational institutions, particularly universities, which continue to train young people who will rebuild Ukraine in the future, even amid war. Ben Hodges mentioned that he is impressed by the skills of the students at the Ostroh Academy, in particular the high level of their command of English, their awareness of the international political situation, and the depth and analytical nature of the questions they ask.
Students of the Educational and Research Institute of International Relations and National Security of the NaUOA shared their impressions about the meeting:
“This is a unique opportunity for all students of Ostroh Academy to get to know the legendary Ben Hodges better. It was valuable for us to hear his thoughts on the current situation in Ukraine and the world. This is very important."
"Ukraine will definitely win, and the US will help it," was Ben Hodges' position during his lecture. The speaker's main arguments can be seen as a guarantee of assistance to Ukraine at every stage of the war and in the search for new methods to resolve this issue. Ukraine has become the centre of confrontation, so understanding the importance of preserving our sovereignty as a struggle against russian "imperialism" is inherent in everyone, including Ben Hodges."
Incidentally, today's lecture was the first in a series of lectures that Ben Hodges will give to students at Ostroh Academy.
Some facts about Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges III::
Frederick Benjamin "Ben" Hodges III - a 1980 United States Military Academy graduate, Hodges became an infantry officer, a platoon leader and company executive officer in the 2nd Armoured Division (Forward) in Germany. After graduating from the Infantry Officer Advanced Course in 1984, he served in the 101st Airborne Division. In March 1989, Hodges became an instructor at the US Army Infantry School. He studied at the Command and General Staff College. He graduated from the School of Advanced Military Studies in 1993. He became the G-3 (Chief of Plans) of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. Hodges served as a battalion executive officer with the 101st Airborne Division and, in August 1995, became aide-de-camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In 1997, he became a battalion commander of the 101st Airborne Division. In 1999-2000, he was a Congressional Liaison Officer at the Office of the Chief of Legislative Liason. After graduating from the National War College in 2001, Hodges served at Fort Polk's Joint Readiness Training Centre. Taking command of the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne in 2002, Hodges led the brigade in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2004, Hodges became Lieutenant General of the XVIII Airborne Corps and later served concurrently as Lieutenant General of the Multinational Corps in Iraq. He became chief of staff of the XVIII Airborne Corps and, since 2007, has been the deputy chief of Legislative Liason at the Office of the Secretary of the Army. In August 2009, Hodges became the director of operations for the Regional Command South in Afghanistan. In December 2010, he became the director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell at the Joint Staff. In November 2012, he took command of the Allied Land Command. In November 2014, Hodges became the commander of US Army Europe, a position he held for three years before retiring from the US Army in January 2018.
Since June 2022, Lieutenant General (retired) Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, has been a senior advisor to Human Rights First, a non-profit, non-partisan international human rights organisation based in New York, Washington, and Los Angeles. He served as the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). In addition, General Hodges is NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics, advises several companies on Europe, NATO and the European Union, and co-authored the book Future War and the Defence of Europe, published by Oxford University Press.
