Cliff Notes – Ukraine war latest updates
- Lord Peter Ricketts forecasts that the fighting in Ukraine may persist for another year amid protracted peace negotiations.
- He believes the best resolution involves Ukraine maintaining its independence and having the option to join NATO, though full territorial reclamation seems unlikely.
- Ricketts warns that any potential ceasefire may not be enduring unless significant pressure is applied to Russia, particularly from the US.
Ukraine war latest
Lord Ricketts warned that fighting in Ukraine could continue for another year, as peace negotiations drag on.
When asked what the best possible endgame was for the war in Ukraine, he said it would end with Kyiv’s independence and the freedom to join NATO if it wanted.
However, “realistically”, he said Ukraine would likely not reclaim all of its territory.
He added: “I have to say, there’s quite a high likelihood that a ceasefire, even it can be achieved, won’t last, and that for the next year or so, we may well see the fighting continuing.
“Unless Trump is really prepared to double down on Putin and show him that there’s no way that he can continue this grinding war, that he’s prepared to arm Ukraine and support Ukraine in the end, then the factors that we were talking about, the weakness of the Russian Economy will come into play.
“But I don’t see them pressuring Putin into a settlement soon.
“And unless Trump is prepared to do it, I fear this could drag on for some time yet. I hope not, but that’s what I fear.”