Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

U.S. Army secretary warned Ukraine of imminent defeat while pushing initial peace plan
NBC News ^ | Nov 25, 2025 | Dan De Luce, Courtney Kube and Abigail Williams

Posted on 11/25/2025 11:15:56 PM PST by McGruff

In a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv last week, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll delivered a grim assessment.

Driscoll told his counterparts their troops faced a dire situation on the battlefield and would suffer an imminent defeat against Russian forces, two sources with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.

The Russians were ramping up the scale and pace of their aerial attacks, and they had the ability to fight on indefinitely, Driscoll told them, according to the sources. The situation for Ukraine would only get worse over time, he continued, and it was better to negotiate a peace settlement now rather than end up in an even weaker position in the future.

And there was more bad news. The U.S. delegation also said America’s defense industry could not keep supplying Ukraine with the weapons and air defenses at the rate needed to protect the country’s infrastructure and population, the sources said.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Russia; Ukraine; War
KEYWORDS: abigailwilliams; anonymoussources; courtneykube; dandeluce; dandriscoll; enemyjournalists; looselips; nbc; nbcsedition; nbctreason; russia; ukraine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

1 posted on 11/25/2025 11:15:56 PM PST by McGruff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: McGruff
And there was more bad news. The U.S. delegation also said America’s defense industry could not keep supplying Ukraine with the weapons and air defenses at the rate needed to protect the country’s infrastructure and population

In other words, the United States isn't willing to transition to wartime footing for Zelensky and Ukraine. I'll just post this and get it out of the way now, before a Zeeper has the opportunity.

neville-chamberlain-PEACE
2 posted on 11/25/2025 11:39:01 PM PST by Right_Wing_Madman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman

> the United States isn’t willing to transition to wartime footing for Zelensky and Ukraine.

Almost goes without saying that the Euros aren’t willing either.


3 posted on 11/26/2025 12:34:09 AM PST by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman

Ukraine laundered money for Europe’s ‘elites’ and hired the sons of corrupt American elites... Let those people pay for the war if they want to.


4 posted on 11/26/2025 12:45:42 AM PST by GOPJ (Soros & democrats back criminals, dope dealers, illegals & terrorists.<P><I><B><big><center></B>)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

Here’s my opinion, if you really believe Russia will win the war with Ukraine and is a threat to it’s neighbors, and that the US Defense Industry can’t supply Ukraine with the arms they need to continue, then what do you do.

You have two choices, pull back in a strategic retreat, negotiate an end to the current conflict and begin to build up the defense industries in Europe and the US to counter any further Russian attacks on NATO Countries.

Any talk about Russia leaving Ukraine is a pipe dream, the only way that happens is if the US enters the conflict and drives Russia out, that would be WW III and a war that very few in the US wants.

I’m open to other ideas, every time I watch the news on the current negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, all I’m hearing is we are giving in to Russia and giving them everything they want.

I’m not hearing any other options except continue to do what we are doing, which so far hasn’t worked and is very unlikely to ever work or entering the war with US troops.


5 posted on 11/26/2025 12:49:33 AM PST by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

“Russian attacks on NATO Countries.”

Why would Russia attack Muslim nations?


6 posted on 11/26/2025 12:56:09 AM PST by mitchjackson1972
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

7 posted on 11/26/2025 2:49:59 AM PST by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and his mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

How much would a peace deal speed up Victoria Nuland’s ongoing physical transformation into Madeliene Albright?


8 posted on 11/26/2025 3:14:20 AM PST by FreedomForce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

There is another option, rarely discussed in threads like this and it is the economic side of this war as it relates to Russia.
From nearly the beginning of this war it has been my opinion that Ukraine cannot militarily defeat Russia and push them out of Ukrainian territory (here is the but), but only if Russia can maintain its economy to fund the war.

What is not often mentioned in western media and on threads like this is that Russia at this pace cannot “indefinitely “ wage this war, economically.

Budget deficits are through the roof.
National wealth fund is basically gone and up to half of gold reserves have already been sold.
Many districts can no longer pay soldiers, enlistment bonuses, and death benefits
Russia went from second largest arms exporter to arms importer
Food exporter to food importer
Fuel exporter to fuel importer
Soviet legacy equipment stocks basically gone
National infrastructure like refineries, pipelines, and thermal plants are being systematically taken off line
Revenue from fuel exports is gone
Revenue from oil exports is way down if not gone( oil sold at below cost does not provide revenue)
And the situation is not getting better and Russians who were told the war would never effect them are seeing the effects first hand.

Men without pay or food or equipment are not great fighters.

Much of what I just said can be applied to Ukraine, but my point is many, esp here, said that this could never happen to Russia, Russia is self sustaining…., and that is proving not to be true.


9 posted on 11/26/2025 3:29:17 AM PST by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: glorgau

The Ukraine War has a winner called China the US is concerned about that military challenge.


10 posted on 11/26/2025 3:31:38 AM PST by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman

Why should the US do this first Ukraine? The EU is capable but unwilling to do this. In reality the US has interests elsewhere.


11 posted on 11/26/2025 4:34:54 AM PST by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman

Why should the US do this first Ukraine? The EU is capable but unwilling to do this. In reality the US has interests elsewhere.


12 posted on 11/26/2025 4:34:55 AM PST by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: blitz128

Russia may not be self-sustaining and immune to Western sanctions, the sheer size of the country in terms of population and resources compared to Ukraine are gigantic.

Very few people in the USA will think it’s “America First” when we are throwing billions at Ukraine to sustain a war that can’t be won, when we have an economy that is mediocre at best.


13 posted on 11/26/2025 4:46:10 AM PST by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: srmanuel

Size is both a blessing and curse
Much of eastern Russia is not particularly fond of western Russia.

Resources have been taken and created beautiful modern cites like Moscow and St. Petersburg, but much of Russia has not benefited nearly as much

Add that most of the losses in men have come from these regions and the problems become worse.

There is a reason that “internal security” costs rival military expenses.

Destruction of refineries and other infrastructure also point to size being a problem, AD(such as it is) can’t protect everything and lately it appears not much

If the economy is failing, and it appears so and at an increasing pace, size again does not help

Soldiers who are not paid, fully equipped, and fed do not fight well


14 posted on 11/26/2025 5:11:35 AM PST by blitz128
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: blitz128

The Indonesian island of Java has a larger population than all of the Russian federation


15 posted on 11/26/2025 5:19:37 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Quid Quid Nominatur Fabricatur)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

“Peace” will only give the Ukrainian people a temporary reprieve. Putin will invade again once he regroups his forces and economy. The Baltic countries and Poland will be his next targets once he conquers Ukraine.

It will be the peace of the mass grave for Ukraine like what happened to the Poles at Katyn or in the Cambodian Killing Fields. Blood debts will need to be repaid with interest.

Putin was KGB and was a senior advisor to the the ruthless East German secret police in the former soviet empire so he knows how to murder innocents deemed “enemies of the people.

Wait and see.


16 posted on 11/26/2025 5:44:35 AM PST by Uncle Lonny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

Germany is now the problem and the reason the Ukraine war won’t end. Germany and anyone who buys Russian oil and natural gas needs to quit buying anything from Russia as it provides revenue for the Russian war effort.


17 posted on 11/26/2025 5:51:32 AM PST by yldstrk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blitz128

“Soldiers who are not paid, fully equipped, and fed do not fight well”

In Washington’s day, soldiers were paid in silver and gold coins.

In 2025, most soldiers are primarily paid by electronic means.

Do Putin pay me?

Da! 80,000 rubles have been paid into your account every Friday.

And Putin is going to make damn sure the soldiers get fed.

If there’s food in Moscow, there will be food in his soldiers’ bellies.


18 posted on 11/26/2025 6:15:42 AM PST by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk

The Chinese are going to buy Russian hydrocarbons.

The Chinese are going to buy enough that Russia will be able to buy what it needs from China.


19 posted on 11/26/2025 6:20:41 AM PST by Brian Griffin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: blitz128

All you say is true, but I’m not waiting for Russia to fold or have a popular uprising to get Russia to stop the war in Ukraine and possibly pull out.


20 posted on 11/26/2025 7:13:24 AM PST by srmanuel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson