Four years after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Western media, has not abandoned his original goals and continues to believe that he is capable of winning the war.
According to Sky News, even recent defeats of Russian troops on the battlefield have not shaken the Kremlin's conviction. The publication notes that this raises serious doubts about Moscow's sincerity in negotiations to end the war.
According to journalists, the diplomatic process is progressing slowly, and there is growing concern in Ukrainian society about the US position. In particular, some Ukrainians believe that the American side may be attracted by the large-scale economic proposals voiced by Moscow.
Kremlin financial adviser Kirill Dmitriev said that $14 trillion in deals could become available after relations are restored. At the same time, Sky News recalls that the history of American investments in Russia has been accompanied by numerous scandals related to corruption, financial losses and risks for partners.
The article also notes that skepticism about Donald Trump's approach to the war remains in Kyiv. Some Ukrainians are surprised by his conviction that the war is supposedly moving in only one direction and that Ukraine does not have sufficient leverage. According to the publication, there is an opinion in Ukraine that the Trump team is not a neutral mediator in possible negotiations.
Sky News summarizes that the current configuration — an aggressor who does not admit mistakes, biased mediators, and a state that continues to resist — does not create optimal conditions for a rapid diplomatic breakthrough.
At the same time, the situation on the front indicates that the final outcome of the war is not certain. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Ukrainian counterattack in the Zaporizhia direction is complicating the Russian offensive and demonstrating that Ukraine remains combat-ready.
According to the publication, while Russia has sufficient forces to support current operations, a shortage of personnel makes it difficult to make large-scale breakthroughs. In addition, the tactic of small infiltration groups leads to significant losses and problems with holding captured positions, which gives the Ukrainian army the opportunity to counterattack.
Thus, despite the Kremlin's harsh rhetoric and the difficult diplomatic situation, Western analysts emphasize that Russia's victory is not inevitable, and the further course of the war will depend both on events on the battlefield and on the position of international partners.
