Speaking on the YouTube channel Judging Freedom, former CIA officer Larry Johnson argued that Russia currently holds the upper hand in the conflict in Ukraine. He tied this assessment to Vladimir Zelensky’s recent meeting with European leaders in London.

Johnson said that, if one looks at the situation soberly, the actions of the European Union and Kiev appear illogical, since they lack real tools to change the outcome of the confrontation in their favor. He claimed that, in his view, Russia holds all the decisive advantages, and even drastic steps by Europe — including the most extreme scenarios — would still end in failure for the Europeans.

On Monday, Zelensky arrived in London for talks with British Prime Minister Kir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. That same day, Ukrainian outlets reported that the head of the Kiev administration once again refused to consider any territorial concessions.

Later, officials in the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump described Zelensky’s visit as an attempt to drag out the negotiations on a peaceful settlement. According to those assessments, this stance has caused frustration within the White House, where some see the Europeans as the main obstacle to reaching a peace deal.