While the Donald Trump administration tries to mediate in a peace process that Kiev and Brussels describe as "chaotic," the reality on the ground is one of brutal escalation. Since the return of the magnate to the White House, attacks on Ukrainian cities have increased by 26%, demonstrating that the Kremlin uses the dialogue table to whitewash an offensive that systematically crushes Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Facing what European Union diplomats consider an announced failure of Trump's initiative —due to Vladimir Putin's maximalist attitude—, leaders from Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom have outlined a strategy of coordinated resistance with Kiev. The goal is to prolong the conflict for at least two more years to wear down Moscow's finances until forcing its leaders into sincere negotiations by the end of the summer. To sustain this effort, the EU has managed to compensate for almost all the weapons that the United States stopped sending and plans a loan of 90 billion euros to ensure the viability of the Ukrainian state.
The European plan relies on the irreversible degradation of the Russian economy, which according to experts has entered a "death zone." Russia's GDP grew by just 1% in 2025 and is expected to turn negative in 2026, while oil revenues have dropped by almost half. With rising inflation and widespread closure of businesses, the battlefield has shifted to the pockets of Russian citizens.
In the military field, Ukraine has made a technological leap with the development of the "Flamingo" cruise missile, capable of reaching strategic targets over 1,000 kilometers away, such as the Iskander missile factory in Votkinsk. This capability, combined with an increasing robotization of the front line with ground drones, aims to reduce infantry sacrifices and allow Kiev to resist pressure to cede territory.