Nobody in Ukraine Thinks the War Will End Soon: Despite the resumption of Russia-Ukraine talks for the first time in three years, many Ukrainians are pessimistic about peace prospects in the region.
Ukraine Conflict Just Keeps Going
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump expressed his faith that a ceasefire could soon be agreed, but speaking to The Atlantic magazine, officials, journalists, and civilians in western Ukraine expressed their doubts about a lasting peace.
At a recent media forum in Lviv, for example, not a single member of the 200-strong guest list said that negotiations with Moscow would prompt a deal. Some attendees even laughed at the question.
President Vladimir Putin has not publicly said that he plans to conclude his ongoing invasion of Russia’s southern neighbour, nor have his delegates in Istanbul. One Kremlin official reportedly taunted the Ukrainian delegates in Turkey by noting Russia’s victory in the 21-year-long Great Northern War.
The message was clear: Moscow was keen to stress that it would be open to dragging out the conflict yet further.
President Donald Trump has said he wants a deal, even promising to end the war “in 24 hours” before winning last November’s election, but Ukrainians are less than optimistic.
In particular, Putin has been accused of prolonging meetings and phone calls to delay the imposition of fresh sanctions and war crimes investigations.
Some anti-Trump voices argue that the President believes Putin is “tired” of the conflict, when in reality, it is Washington that is keen for a settlement. Not to mention the fact that a deal could boost Trump’s global image.
But is Putin really so keen to wrap up a war for which he has reorganized Russia’s economy around and ramped up domestic repression for, and made existential moral arguments in favor of?
Ukraine War Update:
Front lines are holding for now, and cities like Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast are still under Ukrainian control, even after enduring more than 70 attacks in just 24 hours last week.
The necessity of Ukraine’s defense has, of course, led to innovations, especially in drone technology. Although Kyiv is not currently launching major counteroffensives, it is manufacturing millions of drones and sea drones that down aircraft to land-based combat robots and precision-guided Shahed interceptors.
In Lviv’s “Superhumans” rehabilitation center, wounded veterans receive invaluable custom prosthetics and psychological aid.
The recent Atlantic report noted the shift in mood since the early days of the war in 2022. Border guards are no longer cracking jokes, and outbound trains are not packed with refugees. The atmosphere is markedly different these days, but still, the conflict plows on.
About the Author:
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
