Putin preparing to declare 'victory' despite actual situation on ground – Pentagon chief
Photo: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to declare "victory" in the war against Ukraine despite the actual situation on the ground, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated during a briefing.
"Putin is going to declare 'victory' no matter what. You can expect that, no matter what the outcome is. Thankfully, the bravery of Ukrainians and allies, who came alongside, especially early in the war, deterred and defeated Vladimir Putin from achieving what he wanted, which was all of Ukraine," Hegseth said.
The head of the Pentagon also confirmed that US leader Donald Trump will participate in negotiations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
Yesterday, February 13, US President Donald Trump announced a meeting between representatives of Ukraine, Russia, and the United States at the Munich Security Conference. However, it later turned out that Russian representatives were not accredited and, as a result, would not be present at the event.
Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg emphasized that Zelenskyy and Putin must hold negotiations. He also noted that the Kremlin’s claims about the alleged illegitimacy of the Ukrainian leader would not be effective.
According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, before any possible negotiations regarding the full-scale war, Putin will have to demonstrate that he no longer seeks to destroy Ukraine.
At the same time, Zelenskyy stressed that it is still too early to talk about a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainians need US support.
