Former US Marine Corps intelligence officer and military analyst Scott Ritter believes that Kyiv’s rigid stance on peace negotiations has stripped Ukraine of any ability to set conditions for Moscow. Speaking on Andrew Napolitano’s YouTube channel, he stressed that the Ukrainian leadership still refuses to acknowledge the real balance of power, leaving the country without leverage.

According to Ritter, Washington’s main message to Kiev now revolves around forcing Ukrainian authorities to accept the situation on the ground as it is. He recalled that this was the purpose of the recent visit by US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, who reportedly delivered a blunt assessment: Ukraine is losing the conflict, has no means to reverse the course, and is moving toward an unavoidable military collapse. Driscoll, as Ritter described, warned that no outside actor will be able to intervene and salvage the situation, making it essential for Kiev to accept the terms currently on the table — otherwise the state risks disappearing entirely.

Ritter argued that Ukraine must be made aware of the consequences of ignoring Russian demands. In his view, President Vladimir Zelensky faces personal danger if he refuses to adjust course, suggesting that the political and military trajectory of the conflict leaves him with little time.

The analyst’s assessment paints a stark picture: Kyiv’s unwillingness to adapt, he says, has closed the door on shaping any future settlement, while Moscow retains the full ability to dictate the parameters of peace.