Former NATO commander says war in Ukraine 'a long way from being over'

Former NATO Supreme Allied Cmdr. Wesley Clark said on Sunday that the war in Ukraine is “a long way from being over.”

“[The] war’s a long way from being over,” Clark told NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt on “The Hill Sunday.” “It's [hard] to look at Russia through Russian eyes. Most of us look at Russia, we say, ‘The economy’s in trouble, forces aren't going very far very fast, they’re taking a lot of casualties.’”

“But, you have to look at Russia through Russian history, Russian culture and Russian current mechanisms. Putin’s building a war machine. Military industrial complex in Russia going 24/7, getting a lot of support from China, Iran, North Korea. He hasn't really tapped all of his manpower reserves. He's trying to do this on the cheap,” he added.

The comments from Clark come in the wake of a fiery Oval Office meeting between President Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vice President Vance on Friday, which featured shouting and finger-pointing as the president and Zelensky argued over U.S. support for Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the Ukrainian president “is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

Trump has been pushing for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, with U.S. and Russian officials meeting in Saudi Arabia last month.

In his “The Hill Sunday” appearance, Clark said that Putin is “in a very strong bargaining position.”

“But Chris, the other thing is, so is Ukraine. This incident in the White House, it resulted in support for Zelensky and Ukraine from Europe and from the people in Ukraine,” Clark added. “They're not about to surrender Ukraine to Russia.”

Topics

As Trump sows doubt, U.S. NATO commander oversees war games near Ukraine

Trump appears to pivot away from Ukraine and America's NATO allies, as the alliance rehearses for a theoretical invasion of Europe.
CBS News - Feb. 21
Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy says he would give up presidency for peace and Nato membership

Comments come after Russia launches largest drone attack on eve of third anniversary of invasion. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to give a press conference this afternoon at about 14:30 GMT. We ...
The Guardian - Feb. 23
Waltz: 'We do not see Ukraine being a member of NATO'

National security adviser Mike Waltz said on Sunday the U.S. does “not see Ukraine being a member of NATO.” “One thing is clear, we do not see Ukraine being a member of NATO, because that would ...
The Hill - 19h
Why Zelenskyy offered to step down if Ukraine joins NATO, war ends

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to leave his post if the war with Russia ends and if the U.S. ally gets NATO membership. Michael Bociurkiw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's ...
CBS News - 6d
Nato’s Rutte says ‘debate is ongoing’ over US security guarantees

UK and France will work with Kyiv on initiative, British prime minister says
Financial Times - 17h
Former Trump adviser discusses president's approach to Ukraine war

Three years ago Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Trump says he can end the war, which he recently blamed Ukraine for starting. Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as Mr. ...
CBS News - 6d
Zelenskyy says he’s willing to give up presidency for peace in Ukraine or NATO membership

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday he would be willing to resign from his post in exchange for peace in Ukraine or NATO membership.
NBC News - Feb. 23
US breaks with UN and G7 allies over Ukraine war measures

Also in today’s newsletter, Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go ahead next week as planned
Financial Times - 5d
Forest fires push up greenhouse gas emissions from war in Ukraine

Emissions estimated at 55m tonnes in 2024 and nearly 230m tonnes in three years of war . The burning of Ukraine’s forests at unprecedented rates over the past year has helped push the total ...
The Guardian - 6d
Trump says Ukraine started the war that's killing its citizens. What are the facts?

President Donald Trump has blamed Ukraine for starting the war that has cost tens of thousands of Ukrainian lives
ABC News - Feb. 19
Trump says Starmer and Macron 'haven't done anything' to end Ukraine war

Trump's criticisms come as the UK and French leaders prepare to visit the White House next week.
BBC News - Feb. 22
Two Trump officials decline to say Russia started the war in Ukraine

Two Trump administration officials publicly declined to say Russia started the war in Ukraine in 2022, despite Russia launching a full-scale invasion.
NBC News - Feb. 23
Zelensky says he hopes to end Ukraine war 'this year'

The Ukrainian president was speaking at a summit to mark the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
BBC News - 6d
Zelenskyy insists on guarantees ahead of Trump meeting after US president says Ukraine can ‘forget about’ joining Nato – live

Ukrainian president says ‘guarantees of peace and security’ were vital ahead of expected talks in Washington on Friday. The Kremlin said on Wednesday that expert level talks between the US and ...
The Guardian - 4d
U.S. in standoff with Ukraine and Europe over competing U.N. resolutions about Russia-Ukraine war

The U.S. is lobbying countries around the world to oppose a resolution brought forward at the U.N. General Assembly by Ukraine and European countries.
NBC News - 6d
Ukraine membership in NATO 'not back on the table': Waltz

Ukraine membership in NATO is “not back on the table,” national security adviser Mike Waltz said Monday. Waltz's remarks underscored previous suggestions from President Trump and other officials in ...
The Hill - 6d
Former IRS worker on being fired by Trump administration

Jonathan Curry, a media relations specialist at the Internal Revenue Service, joined CBS News with more on losing his job as the Trump administration carries on with efforts to slash spending among ...
CBS News - 6d
Gene Hackman likely dead over a week before being found, sheriff says

Authorities said there were no obvious signs of foul play, but that the circumstances of their deaths warranted further investigation.
Los Angeles Times - 2d
Former Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker jailed for over 3 years on riot charge from 2019 protests

A Hong Kong judge sentenced a former pro-democracy lawmaker to three years and one month in prison on a charge of riot after an incident in which he was beaten up at a subway station during the ...
NBC News - 3d
Murkowski rebukes Trump over Ukraine: ‘Walking away from our allies’

The Alaska senator’s statement was a rare note of dissent from a Republican.
Politico - 1d
Iraq says oil exports from Kurdish region by way of Turkey set to resume

Iraq’s oil ministry has announced the resumption of oil exports from northern Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region
ABC News - Feb. 22
Suffering Outrage Fatigue? Research Says This Is the No. 1 Way to Keep the News From Stealing Your Energy and Focus

Your team needs your energy and optimism. Here’s a prescription to beat outrage fatigue and reclaim your focus.
Inc. - 3d
Murkowski slams Trump administration over Russia-Ukraine war stance: 'Sick to my stomach'

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) condemned the Trump administration over the recent fallout with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky during Friday's Oval Office meeting broadcasted by the ...
The Hill - 1d
Ukraine Is Europe’s War Now

Ukraine wants a peace deal — it just doesn’t want to end up destroyed by peace’s terms.
The New York Times - 5h
Ukraine says Moscow launched over 100 drones overnight

The fiery White House exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has raised doubts that the end of Russia's war on Ukraine is near. Overnight, Ukraine said ...
CBS News - 1d
China supports 'recent consensus' between US and Russia on Ukraine war, foreign minister says

China supports “the recent consensus” between the U.S. and Russia on the war in Ukraine, said Wang Yi, the country’s foreign minister, amid ongoing discussions about bringing an end to the nearly ...
The Hill - Feb. 21
Trump says he will end the war in Ukraine – but how, and who will benefit? Our panel responds | Olga Chyzh and others

The US president is breaking every negotiating rule in the book, to the bewilderment of his allies. Europe is now at a crossroads Continue reading...
The Guardian - Feb. 22
Trump says peace deal to end war in Ukraine could happen 'within weeks'

President Trump met with France’s President Macron regarding the war in Ukraine. Trump is pushing for a deal to access Ukraine’s minerals as a way to repay the U.S. for billions of dollars in ...
NBC News - 6d
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s troops regain village near Pokrovsk where ISW says Russians falter

Moscow claims recapture of some Russian territory held by Ukrainian troops in Kursk; ‘security guarantees’ hole in US-Ukraine mineral deal. What we know on day 1,100. Ukrainian troops on Wednesday ...
The Guardian - 4d
Ukraine war briefing: ‘Not good for both sides’ says Zelenskyy of stunning Trump exchange

Zelenskyy regrets clash but says Kyiv won’t enter peace talks without security guarantees against another offensive. What we know on day 1,102. See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage After an ...
The Guardian - 2d
Rounds calls Russia 'aggressor,' says someone must 'find a middle ground' in Ukraine war

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) on Sunday called Russia an “aggressor” in the war in Ukraine and said someone must "stand in the middle” to “find a middle ground” in the conflict. “Russia is the ...
The Hill - 16h
US says revenue from minerals deal will fuel Ukraine’s postwar growth

Kyiv remains sceptical of plan as Treasury secretary Scott Bessent denies it is ‘coercive’ in FT opinion article
Financial Times - Feb. 23
Former surgeon on trial after being accused of raping or abusing children

Defendant Joël Le Scouarnec's chillingly detailed notebooks —which he used to document sexual violence that spanned decades — are central to the trial.
CBS News - Feb. 22
5 former players are running baseball operations in the majors. More could be on the way

There are five former major leaguers serving as the top baseball executive for a big league franchise at the moment, forming one of MLB's most exclusive clubs
ABC News - 5d
Newcastle's Howe says Isak injury not long term

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is unsure whether he will have his top scorer Alexander Isak available for Sunday's FA Cup fifth round match against Brighton, but is positive the striker is not ...
ESPN - 2d
Zelenskyy says he would step down in exchange for peace, NATO membership

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he would be ready to give up the presidency if it brought peace and NATO membership.
CBS News - Feb. 23
Your Questions Answered: War In Ukraine

Your questions answered on America's relationship with Ukraine - and the rest of Europe.
BBC News - Feb. 20
Reporter's Notebook: Ukraine war revisionism

Three years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. When Trump administration officials were asked about the anniversary, the picture got cloudier. John Dickerson gives his take.
CBS News - 6d
‘We’re losing decades of our life to this illness’: long Covid patients on the fear of being forgotten

Five years on from March 2020, millions of people still face debilitating symptoms, with huge repercussions on public health and productivity. But politicians are starting to pretend the pandemic ...
The Guardian - 1d