Ben Hodges fears that Donald Trump has already negotiated deals with the Russians.Image: keystone
Former US general Ben Hodges fears that Trump is already planning a “terrible peace” in Ukraine.
02/18/2026, 05:3302/18/2026, 05:33
Nina Jerzy / t-online
Ukraine and Russia are currently negotiating again. At the start of the talks in Geneva, ex-US general Ben Hodges warned on the political talk show “Markus Lanz” on Tuesday evening that US President Donald Trump may have long ago arranged a few “deals” with Ukraine. There was speculation about this at the Munich Security Conference, reported the former commander in chief of the US land forces in Europe and Russia.
The group had previously criticized the extent to which crisis regions such as Ukraine and Iran were blatantly used by the Trump administration for private business on the Lanz show. According to Hodges, the deals in Ukraine could possibly be made public as soon as a so-called peace in the Russian war of aggression is announced.
“Lanz”: “You have to prevent that”
The military expert spoke of a “terrible peace” that would be catastrophic for all of Europe. “We have to prevent that,” demanded Hodges, worrying about the pressure that could be exerted on Ukraine in the negotiations – also because Trump wants to reach a conclusion before July 4th. The date marks the 250th birthday of the USA.
Hodges urged European leaders not to be under any illusions about the fighting in Ukraine. “Russia is already at war with Europe,” emphasized the expert, according to the simultaneous interpreter. This must be recognized and the necessary consequences drawn.
Despite Trump’s affinity for Putin, Hodges is convinced that the USA would immediately intervene militarily even in the event of an alliance. This is in the United States’ own interest. The ex-commander devised a scenario in which all Russian positions in Kaliningrad could be eliminated within 24 hours using cyber attacks and precision weapons. Hodges emphasized that Russia is less concerned with gaining territory than with destroying NATO. Regarding the state of the alliance, he said:
“The alliance is not broken, but it is badly damaged.”
Pressure against Trump
In the talk show, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was praised for his recent comments on relations with the USA. Merz had clear words at the Munich Security Conference, including on US rhetoric about Greenland. He had also distanced himself from the culture war of Trump’s MAGA movement.
For Marina Kormbaki, a journalist at “Spiegel”, Trump’s grab for Greenland was the turning point that led Merz to rethink, according to the motto “Up to here and no further”. It is also fitting that the Chancellor allegedly had a long list of pressure tools drawn up just in time for the Munich Security Conference that Germany could use against the USA if necessary.
This included the US air force base in Ramstein, the largest US military facility outside of its territory. General Hodges underlined the strategic importance of Ramstein and spoke of the Americans’ most important real estate in Europe. The list should not be overrated, Kormbaki said.
“But you can also tell that the Chancellor has some courage to stand up to Trump.”
The talk show also discussed the upgrading of Germany’s army. As in Switzerland, there are significant concerns in certain areas, for example drone defense. Hodges also emphasized this. The German Bundeswehr was still the best army in Europe in the 1980s, but they failed to adapt to new developments. In view of the personnel shortage, he recommended relying more on women and newly naturalized applicants in order to strengthen the force. (t-online/con)
Sources used:
- zdf.de: “Markus Lanz” from February 17, 2026