General Ben Hodges: Ukraine Will Prevail If It Receives Everything It Needs

• 14.09.2026, 16:15

It is time for the allies to move from promises to decisive action.

Former Commander of U.S. Army Europe Ben Hodges believes that winter will be difficult for Ukrainians, but they must not give up.

Ben Hodges explained why he is confident that Ukraine will win the war: “I remain optimistic about how this will ultimately end, even though the U.S. failed under the previous administration and is doing a terrible job right now when it comes to helping Ukraine. Something needs to be done to truly change the situation and achieve a decisive impact. I think European countries are increasingly realizing that their security depends on Ukraine’s success, and that’s why they continue to provide aid to Ukraine. That gives me some hope.”

You can watch the interview with the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe for the “Podrobitsi” program on the YouTube channel.

The U.S. Air Force general answered the question of whether this winter will be as cold for Ukrainians as the previous one: “When I talk to my Ukrainian friends, they admit that things are very bad right now and they know it’s going to be very cold again, but I haven’t heard anyone I talk to—neither Ukrainian experts nor ordinary Ukrainians—say that this is exactly what will break them. So far, I haven’t seen that, and I haven’t heard it. You know, Russians are in a tough spot, too. They have their own economic problems.”

“I think that, instead of constantly speculating about what might happen in the future, we all just need to stop and say to ourselves: ‘Perhaps we should accept things as they are’. It’s in everyone’s interest in the West for Russia to be defeated. Let’s use policy to achieve a strategic outcome and provide Ukraine with everything it needs, rather than just talking about support for as long as it takes,” Hodges stated confidently.