War in Ukraine passes 1,569 days, now longer than WWI
British, French and German ambassadors to Russia held talks Thursday in Russia's foreign ministry, as the war in Ukraine reaches a grim milestone. 1,569 days and counting… The Russian full scale inva…
British, French and German ambassadors to Russia held talks Thursday in Russia's foreign ministry, as the war in Ukraine reaches a grim milestone. 1,5
Read Full Story at France 24 →Why This Matters
The Ukraine war’s longevity reshapes geopolitical calculations far beyond Eastern Europe, serving as a grim reminder that prolonged conflicts now outlast even the most destructive 20th-century wars. This milestone forces Western capitals to confront the erosion of deterrence strategies, while also exposing the fragility of alliances built on shared economic and security interests.
Background Context
Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 was framed as a "special military operation," but its duration has exposed deep miscalculations about Ukraine’s resilience and Western resolve. The war’s persistence has also highlighted the Kremlin’s reliance on attrition tactics, betting on fatigue in Kyiv’s backers rather than decisive battlefield gains.
What Happens Next
The next phase may hinge on Ukraine’s ability to sustain Western aid amid shifting U.S. priorities, while Russia leans on domestic propaganda and economic adjustments to prolong its war effort. A prolonged stalemate risks normalizing frozen conflicts, emboldening revisionist states to test limits elsewhere.
Bigger Picture
This conflict underscores a broader shift toward protracted wars of attrition, where technological asymmetries and economic endurance often outweigh traditional military superiority. It also signals the declining utility of international institutions in preventing or resolving such crises.
