Putin uses Ukraine war talks for battlefield advantage, ex-CIA chief says

Russian President Vladimir Putin could also be utilizing negotiations over the warfare in Ukraine to realize a extra favorable place on the battlefield and amongst world leaders, however a former high-ranking CIA official doubts whether or not Russia is de facto excited by peace.

“Russia goes to proceed this warfare, and their strategic aims — which is to overthrow the federal government of Ukraine — have not modified a lot,” Dan Hoffman mentioned on “Fox & Associates Weekend.” Hoffman was previously the CIA station chief in Moscow, making him the highest-ranking CIA official in Russia on the time.

“Putin likes to speak, he likes to barter, as a result of he feels he can affect america to not impose sanctions and additional sanctions in opposition to Russia, and to proceed to offer Ukraine navy gear like Tomahawk missiles,” Hoffman mentioned. “However I see that Russia shouldn’t be very excited by negotiating. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless price pursuing, and it’s good for the Trump administration to strive.”

Former CIA station chief Dan Hoffman warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might use peace negotiations to push for favorable situations for Russia within the warfare with Ukraine. (Getty Photos)

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Regardless of his skepticism, Hoffman emphasised the significance of the assembly between a Ukrainian delegation and representatives of america, together with Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, which came about in Florida on Sunday.

“I believe these conferences are essential not just for america and Ukraine to debate the peace course of and Particular Envoy Witkoff’s upcoming journey to Russia, but in addition for the Ukrainians to share updates on the battlefield, what they’re seeing on the bottom, how they see the warfare going and the probabilities for a future deal within the works,” Hoffman mentioned.

The assembly follows the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of workers, Andriy Yermak, on Friday and precedes Witkoff’s deliberate go to to Russia. Hoffman mentioned this could be a possibility for Ukraine to allay American fears following the upheaval.

White Home Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner pay attention as Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s Nationwide Safety and Protection Council, speaks whereas main the Ukrainian delegation throughout a gathering in Hallandale Seashore, Florida, on November 30, 2025. (Chandan Khanna/AFP through Getty Photos)

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Tensions proceed to rise on the battlefield following Ukraine’s drone assault on Russian forces within the Black Sea and Russia’s lethal missile assault on Kiev.

A sticking level within the peace course of is whether or not Ukraine will cede territory to Russia, which Hoffman mentioned could be “extraordinarily harmful for Ukraine.”

‘The very last thing Ukraine desires to do is give [heavily fortified positions in Donetsk] and in the long run provide Putin a possibility to launch a brand new invasion of Ukraine when Ukraine could be susceptible,” he mentioned.

“Putin has violated each settlement he has ever signed, going again to the settlement his predecessors signed within the Budapest Memorandum that promised the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine,” Hoffman continued. “And so Ukraine have to be ready, with the help of Europe, to discourage any future Russian assault. That’s essential.”

Firefighters extinguished a fireplace early Nov. 30, 2025, after a Russian missile struck a multi-story residential constructing in Vyshgorod, outdoors Kiev, Ukraine. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP Picture)

Hoffman acknowledged that in gentle of Yermak’s resignation and the encompassing corruption scandal, Ukraine is an imperfect ally. However “additionally they occur to be the strongest military in Europe, they usually have probably the most superior drone and counter-drone know-how. They’re the bulwark of Europe’s protection,” he mentioned.

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“And look, it is price remembering that we’ve a trillion {dollars} price of commerce with Europe and the very last thing we wish is the specter of Russian aggression in opposition to Europe,” Hoffman mentioned.

In response to Hoffman, that is ‘the easiest way to discourage [Russia] It’s as much as Ukraine to both win or have a great, stable peace there that protects their territorial integrity.”