WASHINGTON – Former head of the CIA and commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, David Petraeus, says that the West has two steps in its hands that can force Moscow to end the war. According to him, this is the use of frozen Russian assets and a harsh crackdown on the Russian economy.
“The conflict must be ended sensibly and permanently”
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In an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Petraeus emphasized that although he knows the cost of war better than most politicians, the goal is not just any peace, but one that lasts.
However, he has doubts about direct talks with the Kremlin — mainly because of Moscow’s stubborn reluctance to back down.
According to him, Russia has so far demanded extreme conditions, from the removal of President Volodymyr Zelensky to the complete disarmament of Ukraine. In addition, it also demanded extensive territories, including those it does not control.
First step: release money from frozen Russian assets
Petraeus believes that the West can change the dynamics of the war with the first step – by mobilizing $200 to $250 billion of frozen Russian assets to serve as collateral for the bond issue.
According to him, the obtained funds would provide Ukraine with:
- critical air defense systems (Patriot, anti-aircraft missiles),
- financing the purchase of ammunition,
- the possibility to double the production of drones from 3.5 to 7 million per year,
- two to three years of economic “breathing”.
The second step: put pressure on the Russian economy
The second major measure, according to Petraeus, is to expand sanctions, especially on entities that keep the Russian war industry afloat – from buyers of Russian oil to suppliers of chips and engines.
He recalled that Moscow reacted nervously to previous US sanctions against giants such as Lukoil and Rosneft. Then the situation degenerated into panic sales of foreign assets.
According to Petraeus, the Russian economy is much more fragile than it appears on the outside: “Their welfare fund will soon be empty because they have transferred the money directly to the military sector.”
Ukrainian attacks weaken Russian energy
Another factor Petraeus sees as key is Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries and fuel storage facilities. According to him, Kyiv has already eliminated approximately 30% of Russian capacities, thereby pushing Moscow into ever greater economic distress.
Part of this strategy could also be an increase in the production of Ukrainian Flamingo missiles, which have a longer range and more powerful warheads than the American Tomahawks. According to Petraeus, the financing of just such projects would help cover finances from frozen assets.
“Two moves”: money and pressure. And the result? The end of the war
Petraeus is convinced that the combination of a financial injection for Ukraine and tough sanctions against key pillars of the Russian economy can create such pressure on the Kremlin that Putin will not be able to continue aggression.
According to the former general, these measures could shift the initiative back to Kiev’s side and at the same time limit Russia’s ability to finance the war.