Canada’s turbine return to Russia draws mix of support, concern from ex-military leaders

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Retired military leaders forming the Strategic Advisory Council at the Ukrainian World Congress discussed on Tuesday on Canada’s decision to return sanctioned natural gas turbines to Russia’s Gazprom at the request of Germany.

Retired Canadian Chief of Defense Staff General Rick Hillier said he was concerned the move could be the start of western economic pressure easing on Moscow.

“This decision to send the turbines back … may be seen as the straw that broke the camel’s back, and we may start to see a relenting of pressure from NATO, from the West in general,” he said.

However, retired U.S. General Wesley K. Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO Forces in Europe, said that the West have to have resilience in standing up against Russia.

“You have to bend and not break,” he said as he expressed support to Canada’s decision to support Germany amid its dependence on Russian energy.