The mood in Kyiv ahead of Independence Day is gaining momentum. Senior political advisor at Tony Blair's Institute for Global Change, Dan Sleet, notes that with the arrival of another independence anniversary on August 24, a deep resilience and increased uncertainty are being felt in the Ukrainian capital.
According to Politico, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has entered a new exhausting phase. Russia's strategy is now aimed at exhaustion and pressure, changing previous plans for a swift victorious strike into a prolonged conflict.
Exhaustion Strategy: A New Format of War
'This is no longer the war that Russia envisioned, but it is a war it has had to fight: a war of exhaustion and calculated pressure,' Sleet remarks.
Moscow believes in its ability to endure and utilize resources for exhaustion of both Ukraine and its Western allies until it itself is exhausted.
Economic Limits of the Russian Strategy
From the standpoint of human resources and economic pressure, Russia is gradually facing limitations. The situation in Russian society is complicated by economic difficulties and sanctions.
Surveys have shown greater support for resolving the conflict through negotiations rather than direct war. To counter Russia's strategy, Ukraine needs support from Western allies and the European community.
The previous mood in Kyiv ahead of Independence Day is described as tense, with increasing anxiety and uncertainty. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is entering a new phase, where the strategy of exhaustion and pressure proves to be much more important than a quick victory. The situation requires support and assistance from Western allies and the European Union to counter Russian actions.