Ukrainian soldiers fire a self-propelled gun in the Zaporizhzhia region (Photo: Reuters).
"I think by the end of this year, perhaps after the US election, there will be a time for negotiations," former US Admiral James G. Stavridis, who served as Supreme Commander of NATO's armed forces in Europe, said in an interview on January 28.
The US presidential election is scheduled to take place in November, with former President Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden both running for the White House this year.
Mr. Stavridis compared the eventual resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war to the Korean War, speculating that Russia could retain control of some areas of Ukraine, such as the Crimean peninsula and a land corridor to Russia, while Ukraine could move toward NATO membership.
“I see Ukraine as possibly joining NATO. I think the content of that agreement will probably become clearer this year,” said Mr. Stavridis.
According to the former NATO commander, "both Russia and Ukraine are increasingly exhausted by this war, in terms of military capabilities as well as economic sanctions being imposed on both sides."
Slovakian Defense Minister Robert Kalinyak expressed a similar view.
"It's time to start talking about peace talks between Ukraine and Russia," Kalinyak said, adding that the Russia-Ukraine war "has no military solution."
"No matter how the conflict ends, Ukraine will always have a border with Russia. Russia will not back down," Mr. Kalinyak said.
Slovakia's Defense Minister said the situation on the front has "frozen".
"Given the current state of military conflict, it is necessary to start talking about peace negotiations. The leaders of the European Union and the United States should be involved in this process," the head of the Slovak Defense Ministry added.
Previously, former Supreme Commander of NATO Armed Forces in Europe James Stavridis also predicted that the Russia-Ukraine war would tend to end like the Korean War, ending with an armistice agreement, a demilitarized zone between the two sides, but confrontations still taking place, or a frozen conflict.
The Korean War ended on July 27, 1953, with an armistice. The agreement created a demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea and allowed the two sides to begin exchanging prisoners of war. This means that North and South Korea are technically still at war.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has lasted for nearly two years, but shows no signs of abating. Both sides have affirmed that they are always open to negotiations, but only under certain conditions.
Moscow made it clear that negotiations would only take place if Ukraine accepted "new territorial realities", meaning recognition of Russia's control over part of Ukraine's territory, including the territories Russia has declared annexed.
Meanwhile, Kiev has declared that it will not accept a freeze in the conflict or territorial concessions to Russia. Ukraine is in a difficult position as the prolonged conflict of attrition has exhausted its allies and partners and aid has stagnated.
According to experts, Moscow is seeking to prolong the war in Ukraine until after the US presidential election later this year in the hope that a new US administration will change its policy of supporting Kiev, leading to a similar reaction in European countries.
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