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Ex-CIA Chief Petraeus Says “The Obstacle to Peace is Putin” in Ukraine War
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Former CIA Director and retired US Army General David Petraeus said he is doubtful that Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet to negotiate an end to the war, arguing that Moscow has no real intention of seeking peace during an interview with ABC News on August 24.
“There’s not that much right now that would lead us to believe that,” Petraeus told ABC News’ This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl.
“I don’t think, in fact, out of the last two weeks, really, Jonathan, I think what should be clear to all, and I think it is even clear to President Trump, is that despite all of his efforts, again, which we applaud to end the war, to stop the killing, Vladimir Putin clearly has no intention of doing that unless he’s given additional territory, which is heavily fortified, and Russian forces would have to fight for years at the pace that they’re going.”
“I think it should be clear the obstacle to peace at this point in time is president Putin.” Petraeus said.
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Petraeus warned that the core roadblock to peace remains Putin himself, urging Washington to step up support for Kyiv.
“And what we need to do is change those dynamics by helping Ukraine far more than we have so far. Lifting restrictions on them, seizing the $300 billion of frozen reserves in European countries of Russian money, giving it to Ukraine. More sanctions on Russia, even including the Gazprom bank, and curtailing the export of oil further than we have already,” Petraeus said.
Despite the gridlock, Petraeus stressed the war cannot continue indefinitely. He estimated that Russia has already suffered 1.06 million casualties, including more than 500,000 troops too badly wounded to return to the front, with consequences reaching into the civilian workforce.
“This has to have, over time, a very, very substantial impact on the ability of Russia just to find a civilian workforce as well. In fact, it’s reported that they were actually looking in Africa for women who can actually replace some of the men in Russia, in various industries,” Petraeus said.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled a willingness to put certain territorial issues on the table in any potential talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Friday.
