Conflict in Ukraine Set to Continue
According to a February 17, 2026 report in The New York Times, which cites Western intelligence and military sources, Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to continue military operations for another year and a half to two years with the goal of seizing the entirety of the Donetsk region. The Kremlin has reportedly welcomed the appointment of Stephen Wittkoff as the chief U.S. negotiator and has praised the organized, structured approach of Jared Kushner. This stance underscores Russia's long-term commitment to its war aims, despite the immense cost.
Territorial Gains and Staggering Losses
Analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report that Russian forces gained control of 0.6% of Ukrainian territory in 2024 and a further 0.8% in 2025. Meanwhile, total Russian military casualties since February 2022 have reached 1.2 million, including 325,000 killed. These figures highlight a war of attrition with minimal territorial progress for Russia.
- These losses are 17 times greater than Soviet casualties during the war in Afghanistan.
- They are 11 times higher than the number killed in both Chechen wars.
- The toll is five times larger than Russia's combined losses in all armed conflicts since 1945.
Putin reportedly believes that each day of combat and bombardment of Ukrainian infrastructure and residential areas only increases his strategic advantage.
Putin's declaration of intent to continue fighting demonstrates the resilience of the Russian position, even in the face of catastrophic personnel losses. The incremental territorial gains, while minor, may align with the Kremlin's strategic objectives in the region. However, the unsustainable casualty rate calls into question Russia's long-term capacity to wage war and increases the potential urgency for diplomatic negotiations, which could shape the conflict's future trajectory.