Russia to Strike Ukrainian Leadership and Expand War to Europe, Ritter Warns
"I think the decision's been made to eradicate the decision-making center in Kyiv regardless. Russia is going to take out the Ukrainian leadership. This Ukraine problem is going to be resolved before St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Europe is going to be put on notice one way or another that it's not acceptable for them to continue to facilitate this."
About this episode
On this episode of Judging Freedom, host Judge Andrew Napolitano convened his Intelligence Community Roundtable featuring former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, intelligence consultant Larry Johnson, and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter to assess escalating U.S. confrontations with Iran and Russia. The most striking revelation came from Ritter, who disclosed that U.S. military planners privately warned Trump any ground invasion of Iran would require between 900,000 and 1.2 million troops—a force the U.S. cannot field—making occupation scenarios effectively impossible despite current deployments of 10,000-15,000 support personnel in the region. Johnson claimed the Trump administration is orchestrating a false flag provocation to restart War Powers Act authorization after the president's planned China trip, and revealed senior Pakistani intelligence confirmation that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are preparing to abandon U.S. security guarantees in favor of a new Russia-China framework following Iranian missile strikes that exposed American vulnerabilities. The panel argued Trump holds zero leverage in upcoming negotiations with Xi Jinping, as China controls rare earth minerals essential for U.S. missile production and now dominates global finance with four of the world's top banks. Turning to Ukraine, Ritter predicted Russia will imminently strike Kyiv leadership and expand operations into Europe to destroy drone production facilities, citing Moscow's transition from patient strategy to existential defense as Ukrainian drones inflict real economic damage on Russian oil infrastructure. He reported attending an unprecedented Russian Embassy Victory Day event where the ambassador demanded Ukraine's unconditional surrender, warned Germany it faces Nazi Berlin's fate, and toasted jointly with China's military attaché in a display of deepening Sino-Russian military partnership. McGovern noted both Putin and Xi used the term "unacceptable" regarding further Iran attacks, and emphasized Russia's historical trauma from Nazi invasion shapes current red lines. The discussion painted a picture of cascading strategic failures for the United States across two theaters, with regional allies defecting to rival powers and military options constrained by force structure and adversary capabilities.
Key takeaways
- Ritter revealed U.S. planners told Trump defeating Iran requires 900,000 to 1.2 million troops, making ground invasion impossible with current 10,000-15,000 regional deployments.
- Johnson claimed Trump administration is staging false flag provocation to trigger Iranian ship attack and restart War Powers Act authorization after China trip.
- Senior Pakistani ISI general confirmed Saudi Arabia and Qatar preparing to abandon U.S. security framework for Russia-China alternative after Iranian strikes exposed American vulnerabilities.
- Russia will imminently strike Ukrainian leadership in Kyiv and expand war to European drone production sites before St. Petersburg Economic Forum in June, Ritter predicted.
- Russian Embassy delivered unprecedented militant Victory Day speech demanding Ukraine's unconditional surrender and warning Germany faces Nazi Berlin's fate.
- China holds all leverage in upcoming Trump negotiations, controlling rare earth minerals needed for U.S. missile production and commanding four of world's top banks.
- Ritter witnessed Chinese Major General toasting with Russian officers at Victory Day event, signaling deepening military partnership incorporating WWII Pacific theater into shared narrative.