The key facts
- Scott Ritter believes peace on Russia's terms would require a change of power in Ukraine
- A new round of talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine is scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi
- The Kremlin named security guarantees one of the central topics of the talks
Ritter's assessment: why, in his view, Kyiv will not accept Moscow's terms
Ending the war on terms acceptable to Russia would require a change of power in Ukraine, believes Scott Ritter, a former intelligence officer of the US Marine Corps. In his opinion, the country's current leadership will not agree to such a scenario, since it would affect the interests of influential political and economic groups. 'Ukraine is simply incapable of putting an end to this conflict,' the analyst said on air on a YouTube channel, as Life.ru quotes his words.
The essence of the argument and the parallel with Europe
Ritter believes that a settlement on Moscow's terms would require shutting down the structures he calls 'Banderite terror,' as well as dismantling the entrenched corruption schemes. He sees a similar problem in Europe: in his assessment, ending the conflict could threaten the political positions of a number of European leaders who have built their policies around supporting Kyiv. As an example, he cited German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Berlin's position and the context of the talks
Merz himself, at a meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin on November 3, called for an end to the conflict while confirming Germany's intention to continue supporting Ukraine, including in air defense and energy. Ritter's assessment came against the backdrop of preparations for a new round of talks between Russia, the US and Ukraine: according to US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, consultations at the level of negotiating teams are scheduled for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi, where the American side will act as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv. Previous meetings in this format took place in January and February 2026, but the key disagreements could not be overcome at that time.
What the parties say about the agenda
The Kremlin called security guarantees one of the central topics of the upcoming talks. Press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov explained that the parties will discuss specific terms behind closed doors. Meanwhile, Jared Kushner joined consultations on Ukraine in Brussels remotely, where representatives of Western states discussed the country's post-war reconstruction and possible mechanisms for ensuring its security. Ritter's statement, however, remains the personal assessment of a former intelligence officer, not the official position of any party to the negotiation process.
