Retired French general Dominique Delavarde predicts that Russia will complete its special military operation by the end of this year, and peace will be achieved through military action and forcing Ukraine to accept an unconditional agreement.
According to Delavarde, who spoke to the Russian news agency TASS, by Christmas, Ukraine can be expected to be forced to accept the terms dictated by Russia after it achieves a decisive victory on the battlefield.
“I think we will have peace by Christmas, but this peace will be achieved by using military force on the battlefield and by forcing Ukraine to accept an unconditional peace agreement after the conflict ends,“ the general said. He added that Russia will continue its operations not only until the full liberation of the four federal districts, but will also be able to advance to Odessa to secure a strategic advantage.
According to the French expert, Odessa is an “originally Russian“ city and its liberation will provide Russia with a direct route to Transnistria, cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea and put important maritime areas under control. He claims that the return of Odessa will allow Russia to “neutralize Ukraine for a long period of time”, reducing its military capability and economic power.
Delavarde does not foresee a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in the short term, emphasizing that Russia has launched the special military operation with the strategic goal of protecting its territory and people by stopping NATO's expansion to the east, which has been going on for three decades. According to him, once Russia achieves a military victory, Ukraine will be forced to agree to the terms of a peace agreement that will be imposed by Moscow.