US journal lays out why 2025 will mark end of Ukrainian war
Ukraine and Russia are rapidly depleting their troop reserves, resulting in experts predicting that 2025 will likely see long-awaited negotiations to end the conflict.
As Donald Trump’s election victory as US president may accelerate this process, seeing as he campaigned on a promise to conclude the war swiftly, Caliber.Az reports on an outlook published by the New York Times on how the bloody conflict could be wrapped up.
Ukraine faces increasing pressure as Russian forces advance in the east, regaining territory lost earlier in the war. With troops stretched thin and U.S. Republicans unwilling to approve more aid, the magazine believes that Kyiv risks running out of resources to continue fighting. European support may be insufficient to fill the gap left by diminishing U.S. assistance, given Europe’s limited financial and industrial capacity compared to the United States.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledges that diplomacy, rather than prolonged conflict, will likely determine the recovery of Ukrainian territory. Ukraine’s temporary occupation of Kursk, a Russian region, provides limited leverage in negotiations. The Biden administration is pushing weapons to Ukraine, including long-range missiles, to strengthen Kyiv’s bargaining position. However, the publication believes that reclaiming most lost territories is unlikely.
Long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, such as NATO membership, appear out of reach under a Trump presidency and a Republican Senate. Proposals like neutrality align with Russian demands but leave Ukraine vulnerable to future aggression. Trump might seek concessions from Russia, such as allowing Ukraine economic ties with Europe, but these would fall short of robust security assurances.
The New York Time warns that any deal entered now could enable Russian President Vladimir Putin to regroup and launch future offensives. Both Zelenskyy and Trump share fears of a scenario where Russia eventually attempts to seize all of Ukraine. Protecting Kyiv from such a threat will be a central and challenging aspect of negotiations, as past Russian commitments to Ukrainian sovereignty have proven unreliable. Balancing diplomacy with security remains Ukraine’s primary struggle in ending the war.
By Nazrin Sadigova