How can the war in Ukraine end? – “Everyone will hate compromise”

The situation in Ukraine and war described by the Greek-American former NATO commander in Europe, James Stavridis, noting that there is a 60 to 65% chance of seeing a deal that will end with Putin controlling 10% – 15% of Zelensky’s country.

Speaking to the newspaper “Kathimerini” and Alexis Papachelas James Stavridis underlined “the solution that will exist in Ukraine will be hated by everyone».

The former US admiral also expressed his surprise at the tough resistance, the spirit and the persistence of the Ukrainians, describing shameful for Russia the failure of its army. He notes that “we are witnessing the first war of the 21st century where drones, anti-tank and cheap small arms are destroying expensive tanks and heavy armored vehicles.”

“I always try to look at history and find an example of something similar. The closest I can think of is in 1939, when the Soviet Union invaded Finland. Same scenario. Mass Russian invasion. In a small country. But the Finns fought hard. It was called Winter War. They fought the Soviets to the end. At some point more power was applied, but in the end they entered into negotiations. At the end of the negotiations, Finland surrendered about 10% of its territory, but continued as a sovereign nation, accepting a position of neutrality. And honestly, I think that the current situation could develop something like this “, James Stavridis answered the question of Alexis Papachelas “How do you think there will be a solution to this situation?” “How long do you think it will take for that to end?”.

“There is a 60% – 65% chance of seeing a deal”

«There are many other possible possibilities here, but I would say there is a 60% – 65% chance of seeing a trade with Putin taking control of 10% – 15% of Ukraine, but the rest of Ukraine continuing as a sovereign state, Zelensky remaining president and the Ukrainians deciding that for them, at the moment, neutrality has more meaning “he noted.

“Again, there are many other possibilities. And by the way, everyone will hate the deal I just described. THE Putin he will hate her because he will know that he has failed in his real goal of conquering the whole country. Zelensky will hate her because she will be the president who gave 15% of the country. And the West will hate it because it will have to back down from some sanctions to reach an agreement. So everyone will hate it, but usually that’s how wars end, with some kind of negotiation and compromise. In other words, I do not see a complete victory for the Russians. “We are probably heading for a negotiation on the directions I have described,” the former NATO commander in Europe told Kathimerini.

“I was NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander from 2009 to 2013. So, I watched this debate from the front line and I will tell you very honestly that the Alliance meant what he said when he spoke to the Ukrainians and noted that a time would come when You could possibly become a member of NATO. “Just like other new NATO countries in the Balkans, for example Croatia, Albania and others, you will go through a process,” said James Stavridis. “Therefore, it was clear to the Ukrainians that it would be a time-consuming process. “I think this was communicated very fairly to the Ukrainians, at least at the military level, and I think the Alliance was honest when it made this proposal and I also think it was the right thing to do.”