Putin could defy Trump’s peace plan (Image: Getty)
could send his Russian forces back into and take over the whole country, even if , it has been claimed.
February 24 marks the three-year anniversary of the invasion, which saw Putin’s troops roll into and commence the year-long conflict.
Moscow’s efforts to take the capital, Kyiv, ended in failure, with Ukrainian forces managing to push back the invading forces and relegate most of the fighting to the east of .
Now, US President Trump is attempting to facilitate talks about a ceasefire and peace in between Washington and – with Kyiv not immediately invited to the negotiating table. This move has sparked controversy, as has his repeated criticism of Ukrainian President .
Nicholas Drummond, a security and defence analyst, warns that a peace deal may only stop the war in the short term.
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Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago (Image: Getty)
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Asked if could attack again within the next five years and take all of , he said: “It’s a very real possibility. Once he has rearmed, Putin won’t make the same mistake.
“He will go all in to make sure it happens. But I would say that will also be rearming at the same time. It also depends on whether joins NATO.
“We could have the Euro-Atlantic Treat Organisation – NATO without America. We would happily let into that. Stuff what Putin thinks.
“There are all these possibilities. But in terms of risk analysis, we don’t want to trigger a nuclear exchange.”
President Trump’s plan for a peace deal reportedly involves handing over control of £400bn’s worth of natural resources over to Washington as repayment for military aid.
Zelensky has offered to step down as President (Image: Getty)
He also sparked international condemnation last week after he branded Mr Zelensky a “dictator” due to his inability to hold elections while Russian troops are still invading.
On the weekend ahead of the grim war anniversary, Mr Zelensky offered to resign to achieve peace or gain access to NATO.
He also refused to sign the minerals deal that would see the US awarded much of ‘s natural resources.
He said: “I’m not signing something that 10 generations of Ukrainians are going to pay later.”
Asked if he would step down to achieve peace, he added: “Yes, I am happy, if it is for the peace of .
“If you need me to leave this chair, I am ready to do that; and I also can exchange it for NATO membership for .”