Trump’s Top Military Pick: Putin Won’t Stop War in 2025, Sees It ‘In His Favor’

Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to continue the war against Ukraine into 2025, despite suffering high casualties, according to retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, US President Donald Trump’s pick for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

In a statement provided ahead of Caine’s Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, April 1, Trump’s nominee for the nation’s highest-ranking military officer said that Putin sees the war as working in “his favor” and remains committed to his objectives in Ukraine.

Putin’s objectives include “securing territorial gains and forcing Ukrainian neutrality,” he said, as cited in a Bloomberg report.

Caine also expressed support for continued US military assistance to Ukraine, but said that Washington “should focus on what unique capabilities only the US can provide, while Europe increases its share of support.”

His statements about Putin’s intentions to continue the war come against the backdrop of the Russian president’s announcement of a large spring draft, signaling further mobilization to sustain military operations.

On Monday, Moscow launched its spring conscription, aiming to draft 160,000 men while also pushing for voluntary enlistment.

Ukraine protested that thousands of those conscripts are Ukrainian citizens forced to fight against their own people.

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VAdm. Vladimir Tsimlyanskiy stated that last year’s 130,000-man draft was met in full and confirmed the 2024 draft will occur in two waves, starting in April and July. Conscripts must serve 12 months.

The order applies to all Russian citizens, including those in occupied Ukrainian territories. Estimates suggest up to two million military-aged men live there.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the forced mobilization, warning Russia is using these recruits to replenish losses and continue its war.

While Russian law prohibits deploying new conscripts to Ukraine, past cases show authorities use coercion to make them sign contracts for combat.