By Gloria Ogbonna
Former U.S. Secretary of State and Fox News contributor Mike Pompeo said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not engage in serious peace negotiations unless he is confronted with significantly stronger military pressure, arguing that continued and intensified Ukrainian strikes are necessary to force Moscow to reconsider its aggression.
Speaking on Fox News Channel’s Fox & Friends, Pompeo emphasized that, in his view, Putin has shown no genuine willingness to compromise since launching the war against Ukraine.
Despite claims in some diplomatic circles that negotiations are close to resolution, Pompeo expressed deep skepticism about those assertions.
“The adversary here, Vladimir Putin has, as best I can tell, conceded literally nothing to date,” Pompeo said. “And while they say there’s 90 percent agreement, I doubt that Vladimir Putin thinks that the relevant 10 percent that remains is anything he’s willing to give up on.”
Pompeo argued that Putin’s continued military actions demonstrate that the Russian leader does not feel sufficient pressure to change course. As a result, he said, symbolic diplomacy or limited concessions will not be enough to bring Russia to the negotiating table in a meaningful way.
“I think, in the end, Vladimir Putin’s going to need to be hit with a lot bigger stick before he’s prepared to actually come to the negotiating table in a serious way,” Pompeo stated.
“And do the simple thing of laying down his weapons and stopping this aggression—the killing of Ukrainian children, Christians in Ukraine, and all of the things we’ve seen for what is now, goodness, almost the last four years.”
Pompeo further explained that stronger military action by Ukraine, including deep strikes inside Russian territory, would be a key part of applying that pressure.
He specifically pointed to attacks on strategic targets such as energy infrastructure, suggesting such operations could significantly impact Russia’s ability to sustain its war effort.
According to Pompeo, these strikes would not only weaken Russia militarily but also send a clear signal to the Kremlin that continued aggression carries mounting costs. He added that such efforts would require ongoing and robust support from European allies, both militarily and politically.
Pompeo stressed that Europe must remain united and committed to backing Ukraine if there is any hope of forcing Putin to reconsider his strategy. Without sustained Western support, he warned, Russia would have little incentive to halt its offensive or negotiate in good faith.
The former secretary’s remarks reflect a broader argument among hawkish policymakers that peace in Ukraine will not come through compromise alone, but through sustained pressure that convinces Moscow it cannot achieve its objectives on the battlefield.
SourceBreitbart
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