Western countries have no military path to victory over Russia, while Ukraine’s defeat could deepen divisions within NATO, retired British diplomat Alastair Crooke said during a YouTube broadcast.

According to Crooke, attempts to overcome Russia through military pressure or economic measures are unattainable and ultimately bound to fail.

He warned that direct NATO involvement in the Ukrainian conflict could prove disastrous for the alliance. In his view, the bloc may not survive in its current form once the confrontation ends, as internal disagreements are already growing and are likely to become more severe.

Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, also argued that Moscow increasingly regards the actions of Western governments as a threat to Russian security.

He pointed to the delivery of long-range missiles and drones to Ukraine that are intended for strikes deep inside Russian territory. Diesen believes Russia could eventually decide that a limit has been reached and launch a retaliatory strike.

Meanwhile, Russian forces liberated the settlement of Shevchenko in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The ministry said the settlement has significant tactical importance for further advances and the continued liberation of the republic’s territory.

During the same period, Ukrainian forces lost 1,345 servicemen and 92 military vehicles.