When Russia invaded Ukraine nearly three years ago, President Joe Biden set three objectives for the U.S. response. Ukraine’s victory was never among them. The phrase the White House used to describe its mission at the time—supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes”—was intentionally vague. It also raised the question: As long as it takes to do what?

Ukraine loses billions in transit fees, Europe faces soaring energy prices, with Russia largely insulated from the fallout

Trust in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declined to half (52%), down seven percentage points from October 2024 and 12 points since February, according to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), The Kyiv Independent reported on January 8.

A new U.S. president and battlefield realities appear to be pushing Zelensky, who had long insisted on fighting for every inch of occupied land, to the table.

The Russian Armed Forces are pushing west through the Donbas region of Ukraine. Their advance has consistently been called slow, but this is no longer true. In October and November, Russia captured over 1,500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. The pace has continued in December, and Russia is advancing on as many as eight sections of the front. They are overwhelming heavily fortified Ukrainian cities and defenses, jeopardizing Ukraine’s ability to supply its troops by rail or road. They are now only one mile from Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub. Beyond Pokrovsk, the Russian Armed Forces may find mostly undefended fields.

Perhaps all political careers must end, inevitably, in failure. But few politicians have had careers as meteoric, as surprising, as consequential or as heroic as that of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. In just five years he has gone from TV comedian to victor of the biggest presidential landslide in his country’s history to inspiring wartime leader who impressed the world with his resolve and personal bravery. But now with the war entering its third (and probably last) winter, Zelensky’s extraordinary story as Ukraine’s leader has reached its final chapter.

Reality seems to be dawning on Kyiv and maybe Russia, too

He may have rallied Ukraine against Russia, but war-weariness and army corruption rows have hurt his image and most voters would prefer he not seek a second term

Ukraine’s crushing loss is looming, but Volodymyr Zelensky and US Democrats would rather risk WW3 than acknowledge it and cede defeat.

As I wrote in several articles months ago, the Joe Biden administration’s political wing kicked down the road until after the U.S. presidential election the escalation against Russia that allowing Kiev to hit the country with US long-range missiles would constitute. It appears, as numerous reports indicate, that Biden has now approved the use of U.S. long-range ATACM missiles by Ukraine to target Russia on its pre-2022 territory.