LONDON (Independent)- Britain’s most senior military officer has warned that Ukraine is unlikely to win its war against Russia and should begin negotiating peace terms with the Kremlin.
Field Marshal Lord Richards, recently promoted to the UK’s highest “five-star” rank and former chief of the defence staff, said Ukraine cannot expel Russian forces without direct NATO military involvement—an option Western allies have ruled out.
Speaking on The Independent’s podcast World of Trouble, Lord Richards criticized the West’s approach to the conflict. “We encouraged Ukraine to fight, but didn’t give them the means to win,” he said, adding that Kyiv’s allies have failed to provide the necessary support for a decisive victory.
Reflecting on Ukraine’s prospects, he stated bluntly: “My view is that they would not win.”
Lord Richards previously commanded NATO forces during the Afghanistan troop surge and remains a prominent voice in UK defence strategy.
