Retired General Philip Breedlove, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, says it’s time to stop pretending Moscow wants peace. In a conversation with Independence Avenue Media, he rejected the popular narrative that Russia is winning in Ukraine and warned that Putin “never was and never will be a partner for peace.”
Breedlove argues Washington has hamstrung Ukraine by limiting its ability to strike deep into Russian territory—despite the fact that Putin keeps escalating. “He’s escalated on the escalations,” he said.
Following President Trump’s shortened ceasefire deadline and Putin’s blunt refusal to negotiate, Breedlove said the takeaway is clear: “You cannot make peace with someone who isn’t interested in peace.”
He also called out Russia’s continued use of nuclear threats and psychological pressure, known as “reflexive control,” saying it’s been too effective for Moscow to abandon. While praising greater NATO coordination, Breedlove emphasized the need for continued American leadership at the center of the alliance.
