Hodges Urges Destruction of Russian Energy Assets to Force Peace
(ABU DHABI) – Retired United States Lieutenant General Ben Hodges has asserted that the war in Ukraine will only conclude when the Russian dictator, Vladimir, recognises that victory is impossible. Speaking following trilateral talks between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, Hodges emphasised that the destruction of Russia’s oil and gas infrastructure is essential to terminating the Kremlin’s ability to fund its military aggression.
The Abu Dhabi negotiations, described by Ukrainian officials as constructive, are scheduled to resume on 1 February. However, Hodges expressed deep scepticism regarding the diplomatic process. He noted that the Ukrainian government, led by President Zelenskyy, cannot trust the Kremlin to honour any agreement. Furthermore, Hodges highlighted a growing trust deficit toward the United States under the Trump administration. He specifically criticised US special envoy Steve Witkoff for characterising the conflict as a solvable real estate issue and for failing to acknowledge Russia as the aggressor.
Current diplomatic reports suggest the Trump administration is attempting to leverage security guarantees to pressure Ukraine into ceding the Donbas region. Hodges described this proposal as embarrassing, arguing that there is no evidence the current US administration would fulfil such guarantees if Russia launched a subsequent attack. He noted that the United States has recently withheld necessary weaponry, further eroding decades of transatlantic trust.
To ensure long term security, Hodges argued that Ukraine must transition into a highly mobilised society with a robust domestic industrial base. He suggested that European allies must cease their reliance on US leadership and instead provide the definitive military capability required to make Ukraine indigestible to future Russian incursions. Regarding recent Russian missile provocations, including the use of the Oreshnik ballistic missile, Hodges dismissed these as psychological operations designed to intimidate Europe, rather than significant shifts in battlefield reality.