Current US administration chooses wrong path to peace in Ukraine from beginning, says Hodges

Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of US Army Europe, stated this in a comment to Ukrinform.

“Unfortunately, the approach of the administration toward these peace negotiations has been wrong from the beginning. They put all the pressure on Ukraine, not on Russia. They do not care about the origin of the war. They expect Ukraine to give up land that the Russian army cannot even capture. I do not know how that is a good peace negotiation,” he noted.

In his opinion, this approach explains the refusal to transfer Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. The former military commander believes that with the current administration, this issue is most likely open. Hodges hopes the administration will eventually grow tired of Russia treating President Trump disrespectfully, mocking him, and showing him disdain.

“The Russians clearly have no intention to end this war, even though the president says that they want peace. Nobody in the world believes that. I think Trump believes it, or he wants it to be that way,” Hodges stated.

When asked to comment on Ukraine's ability to strike deep into Russian territory with its own resources, the former commander of US forces in Europe acknowledged that such strikes are very effective, but not enough.

“But you need a lot of them. And so far, Ukrainian industries have not built enough missiles and rockets. And this is where I think European industry could really focus, by helping Ukraine’s industry either in Ukraine or in Europe,” he underlined.

He also added that he would like American industry to get involved, and that the administration should support some American companies that could do this.

As reported by Ukrinform, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a conversation with journalists in Munich that he expects the American side not to allow the Russians to restart negotiations under the pretext of replacing members of the negotiating team.

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