David Petraeus

And I came out of those having a sense that there really is a way forward if an agreement could not be reached that could enable Ukraine substantially on the battlefield, on the front lines, and then also to help them defend against these Russian missile and drone attacks.

and then also to put much more pressure on the Russian economy with further sanctions, and that if more is done at a time when Russia is projected to run out of money in its National Welfare Fund next year, that's been funding their military-industrial complex.

If you do that and also go after those who are enabling Russia

Russia's war machine, buying its gas and oil and providing the components for its military industrial complex.

I actually think there is a prospect that Putin himself might have to recognize that he needs a cessation of hostilities.

There are already signs that recruiting is not as easy as it has been.

If not, he wouldn't be quadrupling or quintupling the amount of advertising he's doing overseas.

for recruits and so forth as well.

Well, first, we should recognize that the U.S.

has done that.

Far more prominent in the past week or two, of course, have been these negotiations.

There are sanctions in Congress waiting to be sent to the White House when President Trump signals that.

The Trump administration has tried hard to try to bring Russia to some agreement that would be reasonable.

And it just does not appear that Putin wants to accept any compromise on his core objectives.

If India doesn't buy oil...

it makes it much easier.

And they're not going to buy.

They assured me they will.