Russia's war against Ukraine may end the day after the Kremlin leader realizes that he will not be able to win or force Ukraine to accept unfavorable peace terms.
This was reported by URA-Inform with reference to 24tv.ua.
The former commander of the US Army in Europe, Lieutenant General, believes that there is no immediate end to the conflict, as the war continues despite huge losses that do not matter to the Russian leadership. However, Hodges believes that by the end of this year, Putin may face serious difficulties that will force him to think about ending the fighting.
The general noted that Putin probably hopes that the Trump administration will strive to end the conflict and will agree to a compromise that will be disadvantageous for Ukraine. However, until the Russian leader understands that this will not happen, he will continue the war, ignoring the losses on the front.
Hodges stressed that Russia's deteriorating economy could be a key factor. If the crisis continues, the internal pressure on the Kremlin will increase to such an extent that it will be impossible to ignore in the second half of 2025.
The war could end tomorrow if Putin admitted: “I can't win, we've lost too much, the economy is in a catastrophic state, the people are tired, it's time to end,” Hodges noted.
However, he added that such a scenario is extremely unlikely. However, the moment Putin decides to stop the conflict, Russian troops will begin to retreat, and the Kremlin's rhetoric will change.
Hodges also emphasized that war is not only a military action, but also a “test of will and resources”. The conflict will continue until one of the parties says “enough”.
Recall that earlier it was reported that “We need to urgently stop the “SVO”: the former “people's governor” of Donbass called for peace.