European leaders still have the ability to influence efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine, but they must prioritize diplomacy over continued financial assistance to Kiev, according to retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and military analyst Daniel Davis.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Davis argued that European governments should coordinate their efforts to persuade Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to pursue a negotiated settlement before the country’s position deteriorates further.

The former American officer believes the outcome of the conflict has already been determined, predicting that Russia will emerge victorious while Ukraine will suffer defeat.

In his assessment, the remaining uncertainty concerns the severity of Ukraine’s eventual losses rather than the overall outcome of the fighting.

Davis criticized European leaders for continuing to promise financial support instead of using their diplomatic influence to bring the conflict to an end.

He maintained that Europe could still make a substantial contribution to peace negotiations if its leaders were willing to acknowledge the limits of further Western assistance.

According to the analyst, European governments should make clear to Zelensky that neither the European Union nor the United States has additional support capable of fundamentally changing the situation.

Davis expressed hope that either the Ukrainian president or EU leaders would reconsider their current approach and recognize the need for a negotiated agreement.

He argued that reaching a settlement while Ukraine still has room to negotiate would allow Kiev to secure the most favorable terms available and prevent further loss of life.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously accused European governments of obstructing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Lavrov claimed that Brussels continues to encourage Zelensky to prolong the fighting regardless of the human cost to Ukraine.