**Putin Won’t Accept Peace Unless Russian Empire is Restored, Says US Ex-Defense Secretary Gates**
Former US Defense Secretary Robert Gates has made a shocking statement about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions in Ukraine. In an interview with CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Gates said that Putin is unlikely to accept any peace deal unless he achieves his long-standing goal of rebuilding the Russian empire.
This comes as US President Donald Trump pushes for direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow, supposedly to end the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, these talks have yielded no progress toward a ceasefire or peace agreement. Russia’s demands remain unchanged, amounting to Ukraine’s de facto capitulation – weakening its military, accepting a puppet government, and surrendering occupied territories to Moscow.
Gates believes that Putin sees Ukraine as essential to his objective of restoring the Russian empire. He cited a quote from his old mentor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who said that without Ukraine, there can be no Russian Empire.
**No Sign of Compromise from Moscow**
Gates stated that Putin continues to push for a complete occupation of the four eastern oblasts – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. He also wants permanent recognition of Russian control over Crimea, a pro-Russian government in Kyiv, and a stripped-down Ukrainian military “that looks a lot like an enhanced police force.” Additionally, Putin demands guarantees of no NATO membership for Ukraine.
The immense cost of the war – including around 900,000 Russian troops killed or wounded and significant economic losses – has not deterred Putin. Gates believes that Trump is sensing that Putin is stalling for time.
**No Deterrence Despite Massive Russian Losses**
Gates emphasized that despite massive Russian losses, Putin remains committed to his goals in Ukraine. He wants Ukraine to be a client state of Russia and does not see what it would take to get him to walk away from those goals in the foreseeable future.
The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war dates back to 2014, when Russian forces seized Crimea following the ousting of pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych after the Euromaidan revolution. Gates believes that Putin wants to reverse the outcome of that uprising and return Ukraine to Moscow’s orbit.
In conclusion, it seems that Putin is determined to achieve his goals in Ukraine, no matter the cost. The international community must take this seriously and consider the consequences of a Russian victory in Ukraine.
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