Ukraine may still restore its 1991 borders — former CIA chief

Espreso correspondent Yulia Zubchenko reported this.

On U.S.-Russia negotiations

“I sympathize with Trump’s desire to stop the deaths, destruction, and all the horrors of war, which, of course, was started by Russia without any provocation and is being conducted in an especially brutal and even barbaric manner. And if a just long-term agreement can be reached that results in a ceasefire, I think that is desirable. I would like to see Ukraine liberate all its territory and achieve all the other aspirations we have had along the way,” Petraeus said.

On Ukraine’s technological achievements

He also noted that despite having significantly fewer resources in terms of both troop numbers and weaponry, Ukraine has managed to limit Russia’s successes to gradual advances. He attributed this to the “incredible development” of defense technologies, including aerial, naval, and ground drone systems and robotics.

“You know, in the end, how does a country without a navy actually sink a third of the highly praised Russian Black Sea Fleet? And the answer is simple: aerial drones that Ukraine has developed, manufactured, assembled, and deployed. This is an extraordinary achievement. And you see similar successes on land, where Ukraine is deploying thousands of kamikaze drones. It’s simply astonishing,” Petraeus said.

In his view, “no other country in the world can do what Ukraine has done and continues to do” due to its ongoing improvements and adaptations in both hardware and software.

“And this impresses a country like mine. Yes, we can build aircraft carriers, but the future of warfare is what is happening here in Ukraine. And that is truly high praise for the people who have made all this possible,” the former CIA Director emphasized.

On the possibility of Ukraine restoring its 1991 borders

Speaking about the possibility of Ukraine restoring its 1991 borders, Petraeus stated that he “would never rule it out.”

“I believe this is a red line in these negotiations for the Ukrainian side, which will never accept Russian control. But an agreement leading to a ceasefire is, in my opinion, obviously very, very desirable, despite the regret that we have not yet been able to liberate the territory up to the 1991 borders,” the former CIA chief added.

He also emphasized the importance of strong security guarantees for Ukraine.

“So that we do not see a repeat of the Budapest Memorandum, when the U.S., the U.K., and Russia said, ‘We will ensure, we will guarantee your security if you give up the nuclear weapons left on your land from the time you were part of the Soviet Union,’” Petraeus concluded.

• Additionally, the former CIA Director stated that if Russia violates a possible ceasefire agreement, it must receive “a very strong response.”