'Putin Has Already Lost This War': Ex-Ambassador Explains Why

Former ambassador to Russia Mike McFaul has said Russian President Vladimir Putin has already lost the war in Ukraine as the invasion enters its eighth week.

Speaking in an interview with MSNBC on Tuesday, McFaul said Putin lost the “big battle” after he failed to capture Kyiv, kill Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, or takeover Kharkiv. The former ambassador said Putin is only pursuing the war in Donbas so he can attain “peace.”

“Putin has already lost this war. I want to say that and I want to say it loudly,” McFaul said, adding: “He’s lost the war. Now he’s fighting to win one battle so he can pursue peace.”

McFaul’s remarks come after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed that they have launched a new phase of what it calls a “special military operation,” which will focus on eastern Ukraine.

"Another stage of this operation (in eastern Ukraine) is beginning and I am sure this will be a very important moment of this entire special operation,” Lavrov said in an interview with the India Today TV channel, adding that Russia also plans to “fully liberate” Donetsk and Luhansk and keep areas they have captured.

The Ukrainian president said the Russian offensive has increased in the eastern region of Donbas but vowed to oppose the attacks and continue protecting the people of the country.

"No matter how many soldiers are drawn there, we will defend ourselves," Zelenskyy said in an address. "We will fight. We will not give up anything Ukrainian."

On Monday night, Russian forces released a massive artillery and rocket barrage along Ukraine’s eastern front, including near Donas where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting against Ukrainian forces for nearly a decade.

While Zelensky and some experts have claimed that Russia’s new offensive has started, the Pentagon said Russia is only conducting “shaping operations,” which means Putin is assembling his troops and missiles.

Despite different opinions on whether Russia’s offensive has begun, the Biden administration is preparing to announce another military aid package to Ukraine, five U.S. officials familiar with the discussion told NBC News. The package is expected to be similar in size to the $800 million aid the administration announced last week.