On Chicago’s Morning Answer with Dan Proft, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Jed Babbin cast doubt on the prospect of peace in Ukraine, arguing that Vladimir Putin is determined to conquer the country and restore elements of the former Soviet empire.
The conversation followed reports that Donald Trump had floated the possibility of offering Ukraine new security guarantees, including European troops on the ground backed by U.S. air support, as part of a potential peace framework. Babbin dismissed the idea, saying Putin would not take such proposals seriously and that any American military involvement, whether in the air or on the ground, would risk escalation without deterring Russia.
According to Babbin, Putin’s worldview is shaped heavily by Russian nationalist philosopher Alexander Dugin, who has long argued that Ukraine must be under Moscow’s control if Russia hopes to rebuild its imperial power. Babbin said this makes Putin “a duganist for God’s sake,” someone philosophically committed to expansion regardless of military or economic obstacles. While acknowledging that Russia has suffered heavy losses and faces a weak economy, Babbin maintained that Putin does not care about those costs and will continue pursuing his goals.
The former defense official also criticized the military weakness of NATO allies, saying leaders such as Britain’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron “will not be taken seriously” by Putin. He suggested that the only meaningful Western response is to supply Ukraine with weapons and aid rather than committing U.S. troops or airpower directly. Babbin said sanctions should also be tightened, warning that empty threats only embolden Moscow.
Looking ahead, Babbin predicted that if Putin succeeds in Ukraine, he will not stop there. While he doubted Russia would attack Poland because of its stronger military, he suggested that smaller NATO countries like Estonia could be future targets. “As long as Putin is alive, there is no chance for peace,” Babbin said, adding that Western leaders should recognize his long-term ambitions rather than betting on a negotiated settlement.