Ukraine's top military commander has issued a stark warning, declaring it would be "unacceptable" for his nation to surrender territory as part of any peace deal with Russia.
Red Lines for a 'Just Peace'
In a rare and candid interview with Sky News, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, set out his country's non-negotiable conditions for ending the conflict. He stated that a "just peace" could only be achieved by halting fighting along the current frontlines, followed by negotiations without preconditions.
General Syrskyi, speaking from a secure location in eastern Ukraine on Friday 5 December 2025, accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of exploiting peace efforts led by former US President Donald Trump. He claimed Moscow is using the diplomatic process as "cover" while its troops attempt to seize more land by force on the battlefield.
The intervention clarifies the Ukrainian military's firm stance as Washington pushes for a settlement. An initial draft of proposed terms, according to reports, would require Kyiv to cede the entire Donbas region to Moscow.
The Stakes for Europe and the Fight on the Ground
General Syrskyi emphasised that Ukraine is defending the security of the whole of Europe. He warned that if Ukraine falls, other European nations could be forced into a direct conflict with Russia.
Providing a detailed assessment of the war, the general, whose call sign is "snow leopard", revealed key data points:
- Russian troop strength: Over 710,000 soldiers are deployed along a 780-mile frontline.
- Daily Russian casualties: Between 1,000 and 1,100 soldiers are killed or wounded each day.
- Drone warfare: Russia launches 4,000-5,000 attack drones daily, but Ukraine is matching or exceeding that volume, creating a rough parity in the skies.
- Artillery disadvantage: Russian forces still possess double the artillery rounds of Ukraine's army.
He confirmed that Ukrainian forces still control the northern part of the strategic city of Pokrovsk and are battling to retake it, contradicting Russian claims of its capture. The fiercest fighting is currently concentrated around Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, Lyman, and Huliaipole.
Contingency Plans and Exhaustion
With US support under a potential Trump administration seen as less predictable, General Syrskyi acknowledged contingency planning is underway. While expressing gratitude for American aid, he stressed hope that European partners would "provide everything required" if necessary.
The commander admitted Ukraine faces a shortage of frontline troops and that soldiers and society are exhausted after nearly four years of full-scale war. Despite this, he asserted the armed forces have the resources to continue operations.
He outlined Ukraine's strategy as a strategic defensive operation aimed at exhausting the Russian army, inflicting maximum losses, and striking deep into Russian territory to undermine its military-industrial capacity. This includes long-range drone attacks on oil refineries to cripple the Kremlin's war funding.
General Syrskyi concluded with a grim reminder of the alternative to resistance, stating: "If we do not do this, we can see clearly what the Russian army leaves behind, only ruins, only deaths." He urged European nations to urgently modernise their defences to repel potential future aggression.
