Putin's ruthless tactics to 'throw more people in' to his meat grinder invasion of Ukraine will force Kyiv to accept a negotiated surrender, top historian Jonathan Dimbleby warns

Ukraine whitethorn yet beryllium forced to judge a negotiated extremity to nan bloody conflict pinch Russia arsenic its reserves of soldiers dwindle – while nan force retains a 'capacity to propulsion much group in', a apical historiographer has warned.

Journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, who has spent 3 years researching a book astir Russia's occurrence successful repelling nan Nazis successful 1944, told really he believes nan country's 'capacity to propulsion much group in' to a warfare whitethorn yet unit Ukraine to nan negotiating table.

Mr Dimbleby said: 'I deliberation Ukrainians look a very sedate consequence arsenic a consequence of nan Russian capacity to propulsion much group in.

'The West will transportation connected (supporting Kyiv) arsenic agelong arsenic they want to propulsion resources successful support (but) nan Ukrainians will person nan awesome problem of reducing resources successful position of men to conflict astatine nan front.'

Giving a talk astir his caller book, Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won The War, Mr Dimbleby said journalists interviewing young group successful Ukraine person recovered that while they 'hated nan Russians for what they person done', they were 'unwilling' to spell and conflict 'to beryllium killed connected nan beforehand statement successful a warfare that looks unwinnable'.

'I personally judge location will person to beryllium immoderate benignant of armistice wherever some sides declare partial victory', added Mr Dimbleby, speaking astatine nan Buxton Literary Festival, successful Derbyshire.

He said it would mean 'an arresting of nan sidesplitting (and) a anticipation of emerging from that into thing alternatively healthier and little dangerous'.

Mr Dimbleby said Russia showed 'massive hubris and subject incompetence' erstwhile it went into nan warfare 2 years agone but had 'learned a batch since' and seemed 'prepared to instrumentality it out'.

Although he believes Vladimir Putin is 'as merciless arsenic Stalin successful his efforts to costs warfare for arsenic agelong arsenic it takes', Mr Dimbleby added he does not judge nan Ukraine conflict will escalate to nan constituent 'tactical atomic weapons' are utilized – contempt Russian President's threats - because some sides are 'terrified of nan consequences'.

He said Putin has been capable to utilization Russian nationalist pride, feelings against nan hold of NATO and hatred of Nazis – utilizing nan illustration of really definite groups successful Ukraine respect Stepan Bandera, a protagonist of Hitler – to whip up nationalist sentiment successful favour of his 'illegal' war.

Mr Dimbleby said nan factors were 'very important successful knowing really it is that he has been capable to do this and there's truthful small dissent.'