Asger Risom
Despite U.S. pressure and mounting losses, Vladimir Putin remains committed to the war in Ukraine—convinced that time and power remain on Russia’s side.
More than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin shows no sign of retreat.
Even after U.S. President Donald Trump offered what many consider the most generous peace proposal to date, Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to engage seriously with a cease-fire.
As reported in a recent analysis, this refusal to change views signals not just a military strategy, but a political one — where defeat is unimaginable and continued fighting is, for now, preferable to compromise.
Why Russia Won’t Stop
Trump’s offer of denying Ukraine NATO membership and accepting Russian control over occupied territories was designed to appeal to Putin.
Yet the Kremlin rejected it. According to Foreign Affairs, Putin appears unwilling to end the war without clear political victories, namely territorial gains and Kyiv’s definitive exclusion from Western alliances.
For him, conceding now would not only undermine his leadership, but enrage the ultranationalist base he has cultivated throughout the conflict.
Instead of winding down, Russia has escalated its attacks. Recent bombardments of Ukrainian cities and advances in Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk suggest Moscow still sees the battlefield as the only path to securing its goals.
The Costs and Risks Ahead
Despite over a million casualties and increasing pressure on Russia’s economy, Putin appears unfazed. His belief in Russia’s military and economic resilience continually bolstered by defense production,
Chinese support, and high oil revenues, continues to fuel the war effort. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s resilience has surprised many.
With European support rising and domestic drone production improving, Kyiv remains defiant, even as it grapples with manpower challenges and weakened U.S. support.
Still, the long war may become increasingly unsustainable. As economic strains deepen and Ukrainian strikes reach deeper into Russian territory, the costs of the conflict could begin to outweigh its perceived benefits.
An Endgame Still Out of Reach
The war may only end if Moscow becomes convinced it cannot win, not merely on the battlefield, but in achieving its core political aims.
So far, that realization has not arrived. For now, the war continues as a costly stalemate, driven more by stubbornness and geopolitical posturing than strategic logic.