Retired US Vice Admiral: Ukraine will not lose this war

Retired US Navy Vice Admiral and security analyst Mark Montgomery argues that the Trump administration is fundamentally misreading the battlefield situation in Ukraine. He believes the US has shown weakness by pressuring only one side of the conflict. Montgomery maintains that Ukraine is not losing this war.

Retired US Navy Vice Admiral and security analyst [Mark Montgomery](/politicians/mark-montgomery) has delivered a sharp critique of the [Donald Trump](/politicians/donald-trump) administration's approach to the war in Ukraine, arguing that American policy reflects a fundamentally flawed understanding of what is actually happening on the battlefield.

In an interview, Montgomery stated that the Trump administration has distinguished itself through weakness in supporting Ukraine — and has applied pressure exclusively to one side of the conflict. According to the former admiral, this approach does not reflect the realities of the war, and Ukraine is far from losing.

## US Misreading the Battlefield

Montgomery, who has extensive experience in strategic security analysis, argued that Washington's current posture undermines the broader Western effort to support Kyiv. He believes that pressuring Ukraine while not applying equivalent pressure on Russia sends the wrong signal to both allies and adversaries.

The retired vice admiral emphasized that the situation on the front lines does not support the narrative that Ukraine is on the verge of collapse. Despite significant losses and continued Russian missile and drone attacks, Ukrainian forces have maintained their defensive lines and continued to contest Russian advances.

## Stakes for European Security

For Estonia and the broader Baltic region, the outcome of the war in Ukraine carries direct security implications. NATO's eastern flank — including all three Baltic states — remains on high alert, and any signs of wavering Western commitment to Ukraine are closely monitored in Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius.

Montgomery's assessment offers a counterpoint to voices within the Trump administration who have suggested that Ukraine must make significant territorial concessions to reach a ceasefire. The retired admiral's view is that such pressure, applied unevenly, risks rewarding Russian aggression and destabilizing European security for years to come.