Former CIA Director and retired Military Gen. David Petraeus mentioned Sunday that he is doubtful that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet to debate ending the conflict in Ukraine.
“There’s not that a lot proper now that may lead us to consider that,” Petraeus informed ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “I do not suppose, actually, out of the final two weeks, actually, Jonathan, I feel what ought to be clear to all, and I feel it’s even clear to President Trump, is that regardless of all of his efforts, once more, which we applaud to finish the conflict, to cease the killing, Vladimir Putin clearly has no intention of doing that until he is given extra territory, which is closely fortified, and Russian forces must battle for years on the tempo that they are going.”
Petraeus’ feedback come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Trump final week in Washington alongside a contingent of different European leaders in pursuit of gathering extra assist to dealer a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air pressure mentioned Russia launched 72 drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile into the nation in its newest in a single day barrage, of which 48 drones had been intercepted or suppressed, because the nation marked the anniversary of its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Ukraine continued its personal long-range assaults on Russia in a single day, based on Russia’s Protection Ministry, which mentioned it shot down 95 Ukrainian drones over 14 areas through the newest change.
Former CIA Director and retired Military Gen. David Petraeus seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Aug. 24, 2025.
ABC Information
Petraeus mentioned that presently the “impediment to peace” is Putin. He says that the U.S. ought to rethink restrictions on some weapons that it will not ship to Ukraine and ship extra support to finally deliver an finish to the three 1/2-year conflict.
“And what we have to do is change these dynamics by serving to Ukraine way over we have now up to now. Lifting restrictions on them, seizing the $300 billion of frozen reserves and European nations of Russian cash, giving it to Ukraine. Extra sanctions on Russia, even together with the Gazprom financial institution, and curbing the export of oil additional than we have now already,” Petraeus mentioned.
Petraeus referred to a Wall Road Journal report that the Pentagon is limiting Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made long-range missiles in opposition to targets in Russia.
“That is one other case the place it seems that the Pentagon is finishing up insurance policies that battle with President Trump’s inclination. Now, I can perceive why they’d restrict using sure long-range programs in opposition to Russia once they suppose that Russia may nonetheless be prepared to make a deal. However that ought to be very clear to not be the case, at this second, and I hope that there will probably be a evaluate of that coverage,” Petraeus mentioned.
Nonetheless, Petraeus mentioned he is aware of the conflict can’t final endlessly, saying that the conflict up to now has killed and wounded 1.06 million Russians, together with greater than 500,000 that haven’t been in a position to return to the entrance strains because of the severity of their accidents, and can be having a “very substantial affect” on its civilian workforce.
“This has to have, over time, a really, very substantial affect on the power of Russia simply to discover a civilian workforce as properly. Actually, it is reported that they had been really wanting in Africa for ladies who can really substitute among the males in Russia, in varied industries,” Petraeus mentioned.
Petraeus additionally responded Sunday to the Trump administration both firing or reassigning 16 high navy officers, seven of whom are ladies, to this point into his second time period. The newest removals occurred Friday, together with the pinnacle of the Protection Intelligence Company, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, simply weeks after he oversaw a preliminary report that contradicted Trump’s assertion that Iran’s nuclear websites had been obliterated by U.S. strikes in June.
“I feel it needs to be a priority. Clearly, it is unprecedented. There’s by no means been something like this,” Petraeus mentioned. “There have been instances prior to now the place people who’ve gotten crosswise with the president or with the secretary of protection actually, often on a coverage subject wherein they need to not have spoken out and certainly had been changed. However the numbers right here clearly are far more important than that.”
