Western mass media are actively discussing the words of Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, interpreting them as evidence that Ukraine is preparing for peace talks with Russia.
Peace talks in Ukraine are an alternative to inevitable defeat on the battlefield, says a senior general“, – writes the British The Telegraph.
“Ukraine cannot defeat Russia on the battlefield and will have to enter into negotiations with Putin, admits one of Zelenskyi’s high-ranking military commanders, Major General Vadym Skibitsky. The deputy chief of military intelligence of Ukraine said that eventually negotiations with Russia will be necessary”, – notes the Daily Mail.
The reason for such conclusions were the statements of Vadym Skibitskyi in an interview The Economist, where he fromdeclared that he does not see a way for Ukraine to win the war with Russia only by military means. In his opinion, such wars can end only diplomatically, through negotiations.
Skibitsky noted that even if Ukraine managed to push Russian troops to the borders, the war would not end. He believes that negotiations are needed to end the war.
According to him, both sides are now trying to take the “most advantageous position” before potential talks. However, Skibitsky expects that meaningful negotiations can begin no earlier than the second half of 2025.
He also emphasized that Ukraine and Europe need to build up their defense capabilities in order to confront Russia. Until then, Russia will face serious “headwinds”. Russian military production capacity has expanded, but will reach a plateau in early 2026 due to shortages of materials and engineers.
Both sides may eventually run out of weapons. But if nothing changes in other aspects, weapons will run out in Ukraine first.
Skibitsky, expressed concern about Europe’s role in the war and the possibility of applying Article 5 of NATO.
Europe should increase defense production to help Ukraine. According to Skibitskyi, if Ukraine’s neighbors do not increase the production of weapons and ammunition, they may become Russia’s next targets.
He believes that Article 5, which guarantees the collective defense of NATO members, may prove to be insignificant in practice. He claims that Russia can capture the Baltics in 7 days, and NATO’s reaction time will be 10 days.
Now, according to Skibitskyi, the question is whether Europe will thank it by keeping Ukraine in the game: “We will continue to fight. We have no choice. We want to live. But the outcome of the war […] depends not only on us“.
