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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Retired British Army colonel and former NATO CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) Response Forces commander Hamish de Bretton‑Gordon gave an exclusive interview for the 24 Channel.
We discussed a possible energy ceasefire, pressure from China and India on the Kremlin, and the brilliant Ukrainian counteroffensive. According to the Western military expert, Russia is collapsing around Lyman, and Putin faces unprecedented pressure due to the threat of general mobilization and the position of the BRICS countries.
A text version of retired British Army colonel Hamish de Bretton‑Gordon’s conversation with Daniel Tkié is on the 24 Channel.
Energy ceasefire and signals from Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire agreed between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a different idea—to stop strikes not only on energy facilities but also on retail, logistics, and all civilian infrastructure, including grain exports by sea. What is your assessment of this unexpected statement by President Trump, and how close are we to a possible energy ceasefire?
Let’s hope we are very close to an energy ceasefire. However, unfortunately, we have been in similar situations many times over the past few years.
Interview with Hamish de Bretton‑Gordon: watch the video
But I think any step toward a ceasefire at this stage should be welcomed, and hopefully it shows that President Trump has reengaged with the Ukrainian issue, trying to achieve a fair ceasefire for Ukraine itself.
Regarding President Zelensky’s broader desire to cease fire against other targets, that would indeed be a comprehensive solution. At the moment it seems Russia is suffering from attacks on its energy infrastructure more than, perhaps, Ukraine is.
But we must be realistic. Winter is approaching, and without doubt the Ukrainian people would be very glad if their energy infrastructure is not attacked again during this winter. So this is just the very beginning.
I think this reflects—hopefully—an awareness that President Putin is under enormous pressure. We know he will soon hold sham elections, in which he is expected to win with ninety‑nine percent of the vote, since he has banned anyone from running against him or thrown opposition leaders in jail.
There is also the likelihood, or at least many rumors confirmed by some Russian press, that after the elections Russia will carry out a general mobilization.
That would be very serious, because we know the Russian people are categorically against it, and perhaps we will return to this topic later. So I believe any discussions about a ceasefire should be welcomed, but it must be balanced and fair, and we have not yet heard all the details.
CIA director’s visit to Moscow and new diplomacy
In August 31 the CIA director visited Moscow. According to media reports, CIA Director John Ratcliffe gave Russian officials a grim assessment of the state of the war and urged the Kremlin to make a deal while it was still possible for Russia to do so. We also had meetings involving Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, and in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Axios, this diplomacy aimed to de‑escalate the war before winter. What is your personal view of this diplomacy, of the CIA director’s message during his visit to Russia, and of Witkoff and Kushner’s engagement with both Ukraine and Russia?
A lot has happened over the past couple of weeks. I think the CIA director’s visit to Russia was very unexpected and really underlined the seriousness of the situation.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe / Photo Getty Images
From what we also understand, the CIA director told Russia to be very cautious about escalation. There have been many recent threats from President Putin and his inner circle, including threats toward the United Kingdom that it could be attacked.
And we understand the CIA director warned the Russians about that, simply confirming to them that an attack on one NATO country would mean the invocation of Article 5. And while the Americans have stayed somewhat aloof, I think the CIA director made clear to the Russians that they expect other European NATO countries not to stand aside if one of them is attacked.
Then we had a round of talks with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who traveled to Moscow and to Kyiv. The mood coming from Moscow was not very positive.
Steve Witkoff seemed to be flattering President Putin, treating him like a long‑lost friend and discussing what they would do together after the war. It just looked bad.
And President Zelensky promised not to attack Moscow to allow Kushner and Witkoff to fly on 'Board Two.' But Putin did not reciprocate, and Witkoff and Kushner had to take a train to Kyiv because Putin refused not to attack Ukraine.
So it was a bit unbalanced, and certainly the meeting in Kyiv with Witkoff and Kushner felt somewhat awkward.
Later Jared Kushner gave interviews to U.S. media, talking about how keen he is to make various deals. These were more commercial deals than political agreements aimed at achieving peace.
So I think a lot is happening. We should be glad the Americans reengaged, and it is clear the Russians are struggling.
This week the Institute for the Study of War said Russia needs another 800 000 soldiers to continue fighting. And the head of Ukrainian intelligence, General Andriy Yusov, estimates the Russian army may only hold on for another 18 months due to the huge losses they are suffering.
And I think combined with the very striking Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Lyman area to retake the Lyman salient, a lot is happening right now.
And the fact there are negotiations between the Americans, between the Ukrainian president and the Russian president, I think is a good thing. But we have been in this conflict almost five years now, we have had highs and lows, and we are approaching another harsh winter for the people of Ukraine.
Ukrainian counteroffensive near Lyman and the collapse of Russian forces
You just mentioned the bold and successful Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Lyman area. Russian forces near Lyman have become encircled. Could you give us more details so a Western audience understands how successful this Ukrainian maneuver on the ground near Lyman was and remains?
The Lyman counteroffensive is extremely important, probably one of the most important operations in recent years. It demonstrated that Ukraine has begun maneuvering again.
What’s happening on the front / ISW maps
Over the last two years we had a very static front line that moved little. But during the Lyman offensive, as we understand it, more than 200 square kilometers of territory were retaken and returned to Ukraine.
Huge Russian losses, and Russian troops were encircled. And what it showed is that this operation actually lasted months, but we are only hearing about it now.
The operational security the Ukrainian forces managed to achieve was simply phenomenal.
Also the fact that Ukraine used armored vehicles, tanks, drones, and fighters to carry it out is something very new, and it indicates Ukraine had been preparing for this over some time.
And when you look at Russian troops—who receive very little training, recruits given a week or two before being sent to the front—they simply could not have conducted such an operation. So I think that is very telling.
And the fact Ukraine was able to use armored vehicles on a battlefield swarming with drones... All soldiers, like me, always understood you still need soldiers and armor to seize, retake, and hold ground.
Drones work brilliantly in defense, but there is no drone yet that can sit in a trench for days and hold territory. That is what Ukraine did.
So I believe it’s extremely important that they did this. And we know Russian forces there have collapsed. They have no reserves, and this operation is far from over.
Controversial statements by Jared Kushner about concessions to Putin
Jared Kushner says Ukraine simply needs to fall back, even though Ukraine is advancing. I will quote what Jared Kushner said online during his speech at the Yalta European Strategy security conference in Ukraine this weekend. Quote: 'President Putin has defined his line of what he wants to achieve. If Ukraine were willing to fall back to that line, then obviously the rest of the deal would be ready. Ukraine does not want to fall back to that line now.' What is your reaction to this?
I expect my reaction is the same as most people’s, and I am sure of everyone’s in Ukraine. It seems incomprehensible that Jared Kushner believes we should all bow to President Putin, and if President Putin wants to hold Donbas, he should get it and Ukraine should withdraw.
That is absolutely absurd. Perhaps he did not study the background and check the historical facts, that of course it was Russia that invaded.
Moreover, the Institute for the Study of War suggested that to capture the whole Donbas Russia would need at least two years and suffer between eight hundred thousand and a million casualties. So Russia is far from achieving that.
Why should Ukraine bow to Putin’s maximalist demands—that is simply incredible. Jared Kushner, as an American, should be on the side of Ukraine, on the side of the West. Yet he seems to be defending President Putin.
Let us hope Steve Witkoff sees this a little more clearly.
So I think this really does not help. Jared Kushner seems more interested in making deals over rare earth minerals and other things than in achieving a just peace agreement for Ukraine.
So I think, hopefully, everyone will dismiss his fantasies and focus on ensuring Ukraine gets the deal it absolutely deserves and that the Ukrainian people can accept.
Putin’s hold on power, the elections, and the risk of mobilization
We all know Putin’s party will achieve a huge victory in the elections. Presumably this has already been arranged by all these legal means. What is your view of Putin’s current hold on power and the situation inside Russia? Because President Zelensky says some people in Putin’s circle want an end to the war and are proposing a ceasefire. We also know about the poor economic situation. Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov literally said today that Russia would welcome an energy ceasefire, which is being viewed as a significant development. Does this mean Russia is not in a strong position heading into winter and would also like a ceasefire?
I think it’s very telling to look at what Russian media say, especially Moscow media. Although everyone knows they are controlled by or owned by the state, by the Kremlin.
Attention! The final results of the elections in Russia are already known. Don’t even look for any intrigue, because "United Russia" received over 50% of the vote.
But there is quite a lot of talk about the difficulties Russians face getting petrol for their cars, about food prices. There have been interviews with people worried about drone attacks across Russia, even three thousand kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
So it is very clear that Putin can no longer keep the special military operation quiet, and I think many people’s patience is wearing thin over this three‑day operation that has now stretched into its fifth year and is beginning to affect everyone in Russia.
There is a view that if a general mobilization happens it will really change the situation, because right now Russian soldiers are paid large sums to go fight in Ukraine. Under general mobilization they would be paid pennies, and many believe the Russian population will not tolerate that this time.
So I agree with President Zelensky: when you look at all the information coming from Russia and the assessments, Putin’s position is becoming more difficult, and people are less willing to put up with the hardships they have faced over recent years, which are getting worse.
And it seems these sham Duma elections could be a key turning point, because after them we enter winter, when the situation will again become quite difficult.
And if this general mobilization happens, that too will have an impact. But no one doubts Putin will get no less than ninety‑nine percent of the vote in the Duma elections, but we know it is all falsified and means nothing.
I think, looking at the media and some Russian bloggers who are again starting to tell the real picture of how desperate things are, it is very clear—as the head of Ukrainian intelligence said recently—that Russia is running out of soldiers and cannot continue fighting with thin air.
Pressure from China and India on the Kremlin
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Vladimir Putin to end this, quote, 'endless war.' He made this call twice: first a few weeks ago, and again at the BRICS summit this weekend between China, India, Russia, and other BRICS countries. Meanwhile Modi and Xi Jinping offered diplomatic support to Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, according to Russian authorities and Russian media. Does this seem significant to you?
Yes, I think it is important. If the main BRICS countries, India and China—who possess economic power and also military power—are now telling Putin he needs to seek peace and a ceasefire, then yes, that is quite symbolic.
Putin and Modi / Photo – Getty Images
And I think India is a very important market for Russia, especially for oil. They seem to be discussing some really important topics that Putin should listen to.
And if Putin understands that potentially China and India are no longer going to back him, then hopefully he will realize the only way to get some outcome he can accept is a ceasefire and a peace deal right now, and then move on.
So it seems everything is closing in on Putin at the moment.
And let’s hope he retains the intellect and prudence to accept what he is being told. Hopefully some of the generals are telling him more details about what is happening on the front lines these days, and that he will understand the only way out is a ceasefire and a peace agreement acceptable to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also said that during the bilateral meeting, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping showed lively interest in settling the situation in Ukraine and actively offered their help in finding a solution. Does this sound like active pressure on Putin to help end the war, and can China and India play some mediating role in talks?
Yes, I think that is positive, and absolutely, India or China could certainly mediate. And it’s quite possible President Trump finds it easier to talk to these leaders than to others.
So yes, I think pressure is increasing now, and we just need to look at what Europe is doing as well.
You know, the fact NATO jets shot down a Russian drone over Lithuania at night is extremely important. A number of European NATO countries are offering to shoot down Russian drones, Russian drones in Ukraine as well.
That is something I strongly support. So it seems there is overall increased pressure on Putin, and that, hopefully, will only be good news for Ukraine.
This interview was abridged, corrected, and edited for clarity for the audience.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Одна з найважливіших операцій: інтерв'ю з британським полковником про Лиманський контрнаступ й енергетичне перемир'я". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Channel 24.
