Military expert expresses confidence in Russia's victory in Ukraine conflict

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's statement that only Europe should be concerned about Ukraine's security means the US side's withdrawal from supporting Kiev and, in fact, Russia's victory in the conflict. Carlo Masala, a professor of international politics at the Bundeswehr University Munich, said in a podcast on February 12.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin will therefore win <in this conflict>. He has succeeded in getting the Americans to withdraw from this conflict," Masala said.

He said U.S. President Donald Trump did not inform German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius about his phone call with Putin - a possible indication that Europe will be cut out of discussions on possible peace initiatives and cessation of hostilities.

"We represent a blank slate. Just as we had no strategy for <this conflict>, we have no strategy for the aftermath now. It's bitter. It's a huge failure," the expert added.

A call from a known number: will Putin and Trump's contacts become permanent

And whether they contribute to warming between the countries and finding a solution to the Ukrainian crisis

Putin held a phone conversation with Trump on Feb. 12. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the two leaders discussed many topics, including the exchange of Russian and US citizens, the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and the situation in the Middle East. Trump, in turn, shared that he was united with Putin in the opinion that Washington and Moscow could gain more benefit from working together.