1 hour ago 1h ago 21:37
Only a 'brick wall' will stop Putin, former MI6 intelligence officer says
Vladimir Putin "only reacts to hard power" and will "only stop when he hits a brick wall", a former MI6 intelligence officer has told Sky News.
A lasting peace is unlikely as long as Putin remains in the Kremlin, Christopher Steele added.
In addition, the Russian president "doesn't really accept that Ukraine exists as an independent state".
"That's the real problem we're facing," Steele said.
Regarding a proposed cessation in fighting, Putin has said several times he wants final negotiations to precede a ceasefire, "so for him this is the wrong way round", Steele went on.
In addition, Putin "thinks the Russians are in the ascendency on the battlefield and making gains".
Putin 'only reacts to hard power', Steele saysReuters
Regarding talks with the Americans, Putin will be "very concerned" not to be seen to be bowing to American pressure, "particularly from Trump", Steele observed.
"Zelenskyy arguably has done just that. I think for Putin, internally, politically, that would be unacceptable."
Economically, the only way in which the US could further punish Russia would be to reduce its oil exports, but that would "put up inflation around the world", Steele said.
"One thing they perhaps could look at would be increasing military training and supplies to Ukraine. That would put pressure on Putin.
"But in general terms I think Putin will play it cleverly, play it long, will tease, will make conditions, will not be stupid enough to refuse [a deal] outright, but will make it pretty difficult for it to stick."
Vladimir Putin has sought to reassure Russian citizens that Moscow is winning a "righteous war" in a video address. But Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy has declared otherwise. Follow the latest.
news.sky.com