War to end when Putin realizes he can't win, hold parts of Ukraine - General Wesley Clark

He shared his opinion on Espreso TV.

“This war will end when Mr. Putin understands he cannot win and cannot retain parts of Ukraine that he claims are part of Russia. That's how this war must end. People say it has to end in a diplomatic settlement, and sure, all wars usually end in some kind of written agreement. But the question is, what's the basis for that agreement? The basis for that agreement must be the results of Ukraine's concept for throwing the Russians out, the requirements that concept generates, and the determination to fulfill those requirements and execute the plan. Once that starts to happen, I think Mr. Putin can be forced out. And I don't think he'll use nuclear weapons,”  Clark emphasized.

According to him, if the Russian dictator decides to use nuclear weapons, the United States will have to respond appropriately.

“The situation in Ukraine is different because of the nuclear issue, but the nuclear issue cuts both ways. The United States, France, and Britain have nuclear weapons. When Mr. Putin brandishes the nuclear card, he should recognize the nuclear capabilities on the other side. If he claims he wants to go all the way, he should remember what happened to Adolf Hitler. Let’s not entertain any fantastical notions from Mr. Putin about risking Mother Russia.

Mr. Putin, like every wartime leader, wants to win and is willing to commit forces to a certain extent. Even Hitler, in 1945, was looking for a way out, hoping to preserve Germany. He wasn’t prepared to fight to the end until it really was the end. Mr. Putin must understand there’s no reason for this war to continue. It was unnecessary from the beginning,”  the American general emphasized.

Clark added that Ukraine has never been a military threat to Russia.

“The people of Ukraine simply wanted to choose their own path and associations. If Mr. Putin had been reasonable and understood the 21st century, Ukraine and Russia could be partners today. Instead, Mr. Putin made the wrong choice based on false history and the allure of Russian imperialism, which has no place in the 21st century,” he summarized.

• Recently, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, said that Putin might decide to use nuclear weapons only if Russia is on the verge of a catastrophic defeat.