All wars eventually end through political negotiations, but the outcome of those talks depends on the situation on the battlefield, making the role of the military decisive, former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with the BBC.
According to Syrskyi, it is currently impossible to say definitively whether Ukraine is winning or losing the war.
"Negotiations can take place against the backdrop of an overall defeat and a deteriorating situation on the front line, when the army is retreating. Or they can be conducted on equal terms, when the opposing side has no significant advantages and is suffering enormous losses," Syrskyi said.
He stressed that Russia is currently losing around 1,500 military personnel every day. However, progress towards ending Russia's war against Ukraine depends on numerous factors.
"And, of course, on the resilience not only of our people but also on the support of our partners and allies," the general said.
Syrskyi reiterated that it is difficult to assess unequivocally whether Ukraine is winning or losing on the battlefield. He noted that the country has been fighting for almost five years against an adversary that surpasses it in virtually every respect.
"The very fact that we are holding back this onslaught, which, as you know from the plans, could turn towards Europe, is already an extraordinary achievement by our state and the entire Ukrainian people. That is how I see it," he said.
The former commander-in-chief emphasised that war is not merely a contest between armies but also a competition involving technology, industrial capabilities and a country's financial resources.
"It is a competition between coalitions, because every country has partners and allies who may or may not be able to provide it with the necessary quantities of weapons," Syrskyi added.
