He also noticed the mistake made by Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin – he is strengthening not Russia, but NATO.
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NATO gained new momentum because of Putin
“He is our common enemy. The only reason NATO gained a second wind is Vladimir Putin. Putin sought to make Russia great again. But in reality, he strengthened NATO again. Moreover, he even added two more countries to the Alliance,” said the former CIA chief.
According to D. Petraeus, Ukraine not only stops Russia’s offensive but also systematically strikes its rear: isolating occupied Crimea, destroying air defense systems, hitting oil refineries and logistics infrastructure deep inside Russia. He emphasized that such strikes weaken the Russian economy, disrupt fuel supplies, and force the Kremlin to increasingly deplete its resources.
Ukraine is creating the war of the future
One of the key points of the interview is the shift in the nature of the war. According to D. Petraeus, Ukraine is effectively creating the war of the future today: widely using drones, naval drones, automated airspace monitoring, radar and sensor networks, and increasingly approaching the deployment of autonomous weapon systems. In his view, because of this, classic large-scale armored attacks are becoming less effective, as any movement on the battlefield is quickly detected and destroyed.
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At the same time, D. Petraeus warned that the upcoming winter will be very difficult for Ukraine. He sees the greatest threat not on land, but in the air – Russia may again massively attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles and drones, and it is extremely important for Ukraine not to run out of missile interceptors and air defense systems. Therefore, according to him, the West must urgently help Kyiv not only with weapons but also to fill the gaps in the defense budget.
Why this does not automatically mean Russia’s victory
Assessing the longer-term perspective of the war, D. Petraeus acknowledges that Russia has greater human and economic resources, but this does not automatically mean victory. According to him, Ukraine’s technological innovations, pressure on the Russian economy, and Western support may prevent Vladimir Putin from achieving even tactical goals. It is then, he says, that the Kremlin may be forced to seriously consider a ceasefire or negotiations.
Looking more broadly at the geopolitical picture, D. Petraeus says that Putin, trying to “make Russia great again,” actually strengthened NATO. In his assessment, Ukraine today is fighting not only for itself but effectively defending the entire Alliance, and Western countries must fundamentally review their defense concepts because the war of the future is already being created in Ukraine.
