Europe anticipates prolonged conflict, Kyiv denies “three-year war plan”

European officials foresee a drawn-out war in Ukraine, but Kyiv rejects claims that it is preparing a military strategy for the next three years.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) journalist Bojan Pancevski reported that, according to sources, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy allegedly told advisors at a closed meeting that negotiations had failed and that a plan for military operations over the next three years needed to be developed. 

European sources, cited by the WSJ, also doubt a swift end to hostilities, suggesting that fighting could continue for up to three years.

The report, referencing European officials, states that US-mediated talks have reached a deadlock and increasingly resemble “political theatre.” 

Western intelligence assessments suggest Moscow is negotiating in bad faith, seeking through diplomacy what it cannot achieve on the battlefield. Intelligence sources believe the Kremlin is using dialogue with the US to pressure Ukraine and ease sanctions.

A senior Ukrainian official quoted by the newspaper claimed that much of the negotiation effort revolves around convincing US President Donald Trump that Ukraine is not obstructing the end of the war. Both Kyiv and Moscow, according to the WSJ, are careful to avoid actions that could provoke Washington: Ukraine fears reductions in aid, while Russia seeks to prevent harsher sanctions or additional support for Kyiv.

At the same time, Ukraine’s presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn rejected reports of disagreements or external influence within the country’s negotiating team, emphasising that the team remains united and claims of “divisions” or outside “influences” are false.

By Jeyhun Aghazada