Former British Ambassador to Russia: Peace with Putin is Impossible.

According to ТСН: The situation regarding negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine remains complicated while Vladimir Putin remains in power.

This opinion was expressed by Sir Laurie Bristow, the former British ambassador to Russia, during a conversation on The Telegraph's Battle Lines podcast.

Giving Up Illusions About Territorial Exchange

The diplomat noted that the strategy of concessions, particularly the transfer of parts of Ukrainian territory for the sake of stability, is a serious mistake. He believes that the goals of the Russian leader go far beyond the desire to seize only a few Ukrainian regions; Putin seeks to restore imperial influence in Europe.

"The key to thinking about how the war could end is, above all, to get rid of illusions. It is impossible to make a deal with Russia where you exchange part of Ukrainian land for another part of Ukrainian land, and Putin will somehow be satisfied and go home. That will not happen," Sir Laurie Bristow asserts.

Why Won't Putin Compromise?

According to the former ambassador, Putin is trying to 'defend the rights he sees in a great power sphere of influence — essentially, an empire in Central and Eastern Europe.' This contradicts the security interests of the entire European continent. Bristow is convinced that resolving the conflict is only possible with a substantial change in Russia, which is not possible under the current regime.

"I mean, while Putin is alive. For the conflict to be resolved, Russia should change radically, and that won't happen (editor's note — while Putin remains in power)," the diplomat summarized.

Call for Rearmament of Ukraine

Sir Laurie Bristow called on European leaders to recognize the reality: Russia can only be contained by force. Even if the U.S. stance changes, Europe and the UK must continue military support for Ukraine to ensure their own security.

"They will have to continue to arm Ukraine," to deter Russia from further actions, "not because we want the war to continue, but because we want it to end. If Americans decide their interests lie elsewhere, our interests will still lie in European security, and there is no escaping that. This is primarily about the security of the United Kingdom," the ex-ambassador explained.

It is also worth noting that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed: there are currently no signals from the Kremlin indicating Putin's readiness to stop hostilities.

President of Romania Nicusor Dan believes that the end of the war in the near future is unlikely, despite the active diplomatic efforts of the White House.

Meanwhile, Finnish President Alexander Stubb believes that the negotiators have come closer to reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine than ever before.

In the context of the ongoing conflict, the position of Western countries, which continue to support Ukraine, remains crucial. Experts' observations indicate that achieving lasting peace requires considering not only the military aspect but also the political component, which includes changes in Russian leadership and approaches to international relations.