Gen. Ben Hodges, the retired American officer and former commanding general of US Army Europe, has long been one of the most vocal military advocates for a decisive Ukrainian victory. As debates in Western capitals often stall over fears of escalation and the pursuit of negotiated settlements, Hodges fears that political timidity is blinding the West to the reality of the threat. Speaking on the sidelines of the Chalke History Festival, Hodges sat down for a candid conversation about the current and previous US administrations, the paralysis caused by Russian nuclear threats, and why the failure to fully commit to a Ukrainian victory will ultimately render Western leadership irrelevant.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. Kyiv Post: It could be said that you are probably one of the most pro-Ukrainian and, to some extent, gung-ho American voices, out there. Gen. Ben Hodges: Russia was always an enemy. Their desire is to wreck everything that I have ever cared about: democracy, peace in the world, all of these things. And so I see what Ukraine is doing, an old country, but a young democracy, fighting to protect itself from Russia. It is an easy choice for me who we should be supporting, and of course we should make that the objective. Are you saying the same sentiment is not shared by the White House? This and previous administrations? Absolutely not. Yes, I would say definitely not this administration. The previous administration, at least the Biden administration, did a lot to help, but they always stopped short of saying, “We want Ukraine to win,” because I think they were excessively concerned that Russia might use a nuclear weapon.