Gen. Waldemar Skrzypczak made the prediction in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP, published on Sunday.
Poland’s former land forces chief said: “The first quarter of 2023 will be a crucial period in this war.”
According to Gen. Skrzypczak, Ukrainian and Russian forces are currently competing over which army will prepare faster to strike “a decisive blow” against the opponent.
The general added: “It won’t be the ultimate blow, but it will be a decisive blow, because it will force one of the sides to sit down at the negotiating table and discuss peace.”
‘This war will end in 2023’
The ex-chief of Poland’s land forces went on to say: “Both armies are getting ready to deal this key blow. In my view, this war will end in 2023 in a peace agreement brokered by China and the US.”
Skrzypczak explained: “Everyone wants to help Ukraine, but at the same time, the world has tired of this war.”
The general stressed that the peace talks must reflect the fact that “Ukraine is emerging victorious from this war.”
“There can be no concessions from Ukraine, it’s Russia that has a problem now, and it’s Russia that has to make concessions,” Skrzypczak added.
Russian battlefield casualties reach 106,720: Ukraine
The number of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine has reached 106,720, according to the latest tally published by the Ministry of Defence in Kyiv on Sunday.
Russian forces have also lost 3,031 tanks, 423 multiple launch rocket systems and 283 military jets, among other equipment, Ukrainian officials estimated.
Sunday is day 312 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, rmf24.pl