6:47Former CIA Director and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus appears on ABC News’ “This Week” on Aug. 24, 2025.ABC News
Ex-CIA Director and retired Gen. David Petraeus expressed skepticism on Sunday about the likelihood of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding talks to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Current circumstances don’t provide much reason for optimism,” Petraeus told ABC News’ “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl. “Over the past fortnight, it has become evident—even to President Trump—that despite his repeated attempts to halt the fighting, Putin has no interest in peace unless he gains additional territories. These areas are heavily fortified, and Russian troops would face years of combat at their current rate of progress.”
Petraeus made these remarks following Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, where European leaders also gathered to seek additional support for mediating a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia’s latest overnight assault included 72 drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile, with 48 drones being neutralized. This attack coincided with Ukraine’s commemoration of its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have downed 95 Ukrainian drones across 14 regions during overnight Ukrainian strikes.
Former CIA Director and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus appears on ABC News’ “This Week” on Aug. 24, 2025.ABC News
Petraeus emphasized that Putin remains the primary barrier to peace. He advocated for the U.S. to remove certain weapon restrictions on Ukraine and increase military aid to expedite an end to the war, now in its fourth year.
“We must alter the current situation by significantly boosting support for Ukraine—relaxing limitations, confiscating the $300 billion in frozen Russian assets held by European nations for Kyiv, imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, such as targeting Gazprom Bank, and further reducing Russian oil exports,” Petraeus stated.
He referenced a Wall Street Journal article indicating Pentagon-imposed restrictions on Ukraine’s deployment of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles against Russian targets.
“This seems yet another instance where Pentagon policies clash with President Trump’s stated intentions. While limiting certain strikes may have been justifiable when a deal with Russia appeared plausible, it’s now clear that isn’t the case. A policy reassessment is overdue,” Petraeus remarked.
Petraeus acknowledged the war’s unsustainable nature, noting Russian casualties surpassing 1 million, with over half a million too severely injured to return to combat. He also highlighted the conflict’s strain on Russia’s civilian labor force.
“The prolonged conflict is drastically diminishing Russia’s available workforce. Reports suggest they’re even recruiting women from Africa to fill industrial roles previously held by Russian men,” Petraeus added.
Additionally, Petraeus addressed the Trump administration’s dismissal or reassignment of 16 senior military officials—seven of them women—during his second term. Recent removals included Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, following his oversight of a report contradicting Trump’s claim that U.S. airstrikes had destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
“This trend is concerning and unprecedented in scale,” Petraeus noted. “While past administrations have replaced officials over policy disagreements, the current number of dismissals is far beyond typical norms.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
