War Has Entered an Exhaustion Phase With No Winners, Says Zaluzhnyi

Valeriy Zaluzhnyi’s Analysis of the War in Ukraine

According to Главком: Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and now ambassador to the United Kingdom, wrote in an op-ed for Interfax-Ukraine that the conflict continues despite a stalemate on the front lines. He emphasized that Russia has not achieved its political objectives but has not conceded defeat either. According to Zaluzhnyi, the war has shifted into a phase of attrition where there will be no victors-only the vanquished-and so far, both Russia and Ukraine fall into that category.

Zaluzhnyi points out that Russia occupies Ukrainian territory and possesses greater reserves of resources, including its own space capabilities, while also outpacing Ukraine in ballistic missile production.

'Has Russia lost? First of all, regarding the political goals Russia declared, it can be considered that Russia has not achieved them, and therefore has not won. However, this conclusion will only hold if Russia agrees to end the war. Obviously, that will not happen' - Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

It is also worth noting that international support for Ukraine is gradually weakening due to shifting U.S. positions and divisions within the European Union. Zaluzhnyi argues that even by inflicting devastating blows on the Russian economy, Ukraine remains dependent on financial and technological assistance while accumulating numerous internal problems.

'Russia fully understands this and is counting on exhausting Ukraine both morally and physically' - Valeriy Zaluzhnyi.

According to Zaluzhnyi, the war has become a competition of critical infrastructure vulnerability, changing the paradigm of warfare. 'This is a war of attrition. There will be no winners, only the vanquished. So far, that list includes Russia and Ukraine, which-despite trying to wishful thinking-have lost more than they have gained,' he stressed.

Zaluzhnyi also noted that the conflict has shattered the old world order and proven the ineffectiveness of classic models of collective security.

Difficult Situation and Opportunities for Ukraine

Given such a challenging situation, Zaluzhnyi believes any peace agreement will be complicated by territorial issues, while the unique experience of Ukrainian resistance opens opportunities to gain a new geopolitical agency.

Zaluzhnyi’s statements reflect the complex and tense state of the war in Ukraine, where neither side can achieve decisive breakthroughs. Reduced international support and Russia’s growing resource advantage could complicate Ukraine’s next moves, while threatening its territorial integrity. In this context, it is crucial for Ukraine to maintain its positions and seek new avenues for international backing and diplomatic resolution of the conflict.

As the conflict evolves into a war of attrition, understanding potential resolutions becomes increasingly important. Recent insights from negotiators suggest two viable scenarios for concluding the war in Ukraine, which could provide a framework for future discussions. These approaches may help clarify the path forward amidst the ongoing stalemate and shifting international support.