The colonel predicted the start of negotiations and the duration of the war in Ukraine
Negotiations may be on the horizon, but it is Ukraine that must shape and dictate the terms of any future agreements.
This was stated by retired British Army Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon in an interview with
">Channel 24.
Currently, the situation regarding a resolution to the Russian-Ukrainian war is quite complex. It is known that U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has frequently visited Moscow, yet has achieved very little. At the same time, dialogue remains important.
“How long can Putin keep this up? He is, after all, an autocratic leader. He is, as the Iranians would say, the supreme leader: whatever he says goes. But, as we discussed at the beginning of this interview, more and more voices are being heard among politicians in Putin’s inner circle. They say that this war is madness, that it must be stopped,” he noted.
According to the colonel, given Ukraine’s initiatives and the general mood, there is a sense that the parties are likely not far from peace talks.
“Of course, if we go back two weeks to the ‘Victory Day parade,’ which was a disaster and a humiliation for Putin. He himself said at a press conference afterward that the war is likely coming to an end. Perhaps it really is nearing its end. But what is critically important is that now Ukraine, so to speak, is in the driver’s seat. We are now in a different position compared to where we were in Alaska many months ago,” Bretton-Gordon asserted.
He emphasized that the situation is now completely different, and that, in his opinion, it is Ukraine—not Russia—that should determine the terms for ending the war.
“How long can this go on? Of course, if you don’t value human life—your own people and the losses—you can keep throwing them into the front lines. But ultimately, Russia cannot exist on thin air. It needs money, finances, industry. All of this is now being destroyed. Therefore, under normal circumstances, one could assume or expect that peace talks are very close. I am an incorrigible optimist and hope that this will happen,” the colonel predicted.
At the same time, it is Ukraine that must dictate the terms, says Bretton-Gordon. According to him, it must be a just peace for the state, not a deal concocted by Witkoff, Trump, and Putin solely to stop the fighting.
“There is a sense that the Ukrainian leadership now understands this. After all, they have done a pretty good job so far, and I am confident they will continue to move forward,” the military officer concluded.
As a reminder, Putin authorized the army to invade other countries to free Russians who had been imprisoned
On the night of May 24, Russian troops carried out a massive combined attack on Kyiv, using ballistic missiles and strike drones. All districts of the capital came under fire.
On the night of May 24, Russian troops carried out a massive attack on the Kyiv region, using strike drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. The shelling resulted in casualties and damage across all districts of the region.
On May 23, Russian forces launched a second strike on Balakliya in the Kharkiv region. The attack damaged the “Light of the Gospel” church building, an apartment building, and private residential structures. The shelling sparked a fire that destroyed the church building.
