Polish Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski says Putin will only stop the war when he realizes victory is impossible.
Pressure on Russia Key to Ending War
Vladimir Putin will end the war against Ukraine only when he acknowledges he cannot win, said Radosław Sikorski in a CNN interview. He believes Putin may reach this conclusion if Western economic pressure increases and Ukraine continues to receive military and political support.
Shifting Moods and Ukrainian Strikes
Sikorski emphasized that sustained Western support for Ukraine weakens Russia’s war capabilities. He noted recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, including refineries, which hinder Moscow’s military operations. He also observed a shift in Donald Trump’s tone on the conflict, attributing it to visible weaknesses in Russia’s offensive.
History as a Warning to Moscow
The Foreign Minister compared the current war to World War I, which ended due to one side’s exhaustion. He argued Putin launched the aggression based on flawed assumptions, such as the quick collapse of Ukrainian leadership and pro-Russian sentiment among Ukrainians. Sikorski stated that Putin cannot now admit his mistakes, prolonging the conflict. He suggested that a Russian defeat could benefit not only Ukraine and Europe but also Russia itself, paving the way for internal reforms.
