One-on-One with General Petraeus:
Tell Me How This Will End in Ukraine & The Future of Warfare

General David Petraeus, retired United States Army General, former Director of the CIA, and former Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, joined The World Forum 2026 on 16-17 February 2026, for a one-on-one conversation on the future of Ukraine, the transformation of warfare, and the consequences of delayed Western action. Drawing on his leadership experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, the CIA, and his recent visit to Ukraine, General Petraeus assessed Russia’s military and economic pressure points, Ukraine’s extraordinary battlefield innovation, the rise of drones and AI-enabled warfare, and the urgent need for stronger sanctions, sustained military support, and credible security guarantees.

General Petraeus warned: “Putin is not winning, but he can’t quit. And what we’ve got to make clear to him is that not only is he not winning, but he has to quit, because he can’t sustain the cost in blood and treasure and economic downturn.” He described Ukraine as the world’s leading center of military innovation, producing millions of drones and reshaping modern war through unmanned systems, rapid battlefield adaptation, and new operational concepts. The discussion concluded with a clear call to action: the United States, Europe, NATO, and democratic allies must increase economic pressure on Russia, accelerate defense innovation, learn from Ukraine’s drone revolution, and build the political and military architecture needed to secure a durable peace and protect democratic Europe.