Three and a Half Years of War: Putin’s Relentless Pursuit of Conflict Over Peace in Ukraine

As the conflict in Ukraine surpasses three and a half years, there remains no tangible indication from Moscow that President Vladimir Putin is serious about ending the bloodshed. On the contrary, his persistent claim that victory is just around the corner belies the stark reality on the ground: Russian forces have made minimal gains despite enormous human and economic costs.Recent reports reveal that Putin boasted to former U.S. President Donald Trump about an imminent conquest of the entire Donbas region. Yet even Russia’s modest territorial control—approximately 115,000 square kilometers—is less than what some small countries hold, covering only about 20%...