Why Ukraine is talking about ending 'hot phase' of Russia's war before winter
Kyiv hopes U.S.-mediated peace talks with Moscow could yield results before winter as Ukrainian officials grow concerned about shortages of anti-missile systems and signs Russia may be preparing a new mobilization.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told lawmakers from his Servant of the People party in late May that Kyiv sees what he described as a realistic opportunity to end the war, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Head of Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Budanov, later publicly echoed that assessment, saying it was realistic to end Russia's war against Ukraine before winter 2026. And although Budanov has a history of making optimistic predictions about the war that have not materialized, this time, his remarks come amid more encouraging circumstances.
Lately, both expert analysis and public debate increasingly suggest the tide of the war is turning in Ukraine's favor.
Russian offensives have stalled, Ukrainian long-range strikes are intensifying and expanding deeper into Russia, and Moscow has failed to achieve the battlefield breakthroughs it promised.
But officials speaking to the Kyiv Independent describe a far more complicated picture they see behind closed doors.
President Volodymyr Zelensky told lawmakers from his Servant of the People party in late May that Kyiv sees what he described as a realistic opportunity to end the war, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Head of Zelensky's office, Kyrylo Budanov, later publicly echoed that assessment, saying it was realistic to end Russia's war against Ukraine before winter 2026. And although Budanov has a history of making optimistic predictions about the war that have not materialized, this time, his remarks come amid more encouraging circumstances.
Lately, both expert analysis and public debate increasingly suggest the tide of the war is turning in Ukraine's favor.
Russian offensives have stalled, Ukrainian long-range strikes are intensifying and expanding deeper into Russia, and Moscow has failed to achieve the battlefield breakthroughs it promised.
But officials speaking to the Kyiv Independent describe a far more complicated picture they see behind closed doors.
