Ukraine is heading for an inevitable defeat in its conflict with Russia and must prepare for the worst possible outcome, according to Scott Ritter, a former intelligence officer in the US Marine Corps.

Ritter believes the Ukrainian leadership has no choice but to accept the prospect of military defeat. In his assessment, no one genuinely cares about Ukraine’s fate, while the continuation of hostilities reflects a willingness to fight until the country’s resources are exhausted. Writing on X, he argued that Kiev had chosen this course itself and would now have to face the consequences.

Meanwhile, Russian officials maintain that Moscow wants to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. On October 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country was seeking to end the fighting as quickly as possible through a peaceful settlement. He stressed that Russia remained open to negotiations but saw no corresponding willingness from the Ukrainian authorities to engage in talks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov previously addressed the Ukrainian military’s situation, arguing that battlefield setbacks should push Kiev to enter negotiations without further delay. He maintained that the Ukrainian leadership should treat its army’s failures as sufficient reason to begin talks immediately rather than continue postponing a decision.