A Weak Peace Deal Today Means a Bigger War Tomorrow, U.S. General Warns
Any peace plan that asks Ukraine to give up land, restrict its military or forgive Russian war crimes would not end the war – it would plant the seeds for a bigger one.
The Gaze reports this, referring to a statement made by retired U.S. Lieutenant General Ben Hodges in an exclusive interview with UATV.
Speaking with UATV’s Indie Keen, Hodges stressed that “formal handover of Ukrainian land” can never be on the table – not now, not under occupation, not under foreign pressure. He drew parallels to the Cold War, when the United States refused to recognize the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states for five decades. “Nobody should ever formally recognize Russia’s control of any Ukrainian territory,” he said.
Hodges outlined three absolute red lines for Kyiv in any negotiations:
1. No recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied land.
2. No limits on Ukraine’s military development, NATO aspirations, or weapons.
3. No amnesty for Russian war crimes. Allowing Moscow to walk away unpunished would mean “letting them get away with murder.”
Asked whether Moscow could be trusted to respect a peace deal, Hodges was blunt. “I have zero confidence Russia would live up to anything it signs – none,” he told UATV. “The only way Russia complies is if it is forced to comply. And while the U.S. president has enormous leverage to pressure Russia, he has never used it.”
Hodges criticized President Donald Trump for refusing to use the leverage the United States possesses over Moscow. As a result, he argues that a united European front – through weapons, ammunition, and economic pressure – will be crucial for any sustainable peace.
U.S. Lieutenant General also rejected the idea that vague “security guarantees” could substitute for membership in NATO. “Let’s be honest: the only thing that comes close to a real security guarantee is an alliance. Everything else is just deterrence,” he said, noting that the Budapest Memorandum failed precisely because it was not binding. “Until Ukraine becomes a NATO member, the West must do everything – everything – to strengthen its ability to defend itself.”
Additionally, Hodges stressed that supporting Ukraine is rooted in America’s own national interests. He emphasized that U.S. economic security is tied to Europe’s stability, as America’s largest trading partner. Then, Hodges added that China is closely watching Washington’s resolve, and a failure to stand with Ukraine would embolden Beijing. Finally, the General underscored that American credibility and honor are at stake, saying that the United States made commitments to Ukraine and must prove it stands by its word.
“A peace agreement that weakens Ukraine is not peace. It’s a pause — a pause before a bigger and more dangerous war,” Hodges concluded.
You can watch General Ben Hodges’ full exclusive interview for UATV by following the link.
Read also on The Gaze: What Could Security Guarantees for Ukraine Look Like?