US political scientist Ian Bremmer predicts Ukraine may face significant territorial losses, especially in Donbass, as the war with Russia drags on.
In an interview with Bild, Bremmer stated, “Russia has conquered large areas and will not give them up. Ukraine currently lacks the military capacity to reclaim them.” He further noted, “The war is not going well for Ukraine.”
Looking ahead, Bremmer expects US President Donald Trump, who is set to return to the White House in 2025, to push for a swift end to the conflict. Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to quickly resolve the war, although details remain unclear. Bremmer believes a potential deal could result in Ukraine’s division, with Russia retaining significant territories. For Europe, this would pose a challenge, especially if Trump negotiates without coordinating with allies. He warned that a stronger Russia could become an even greater threat to Europe.
Despite these concerns, Bremmer doubts the US will leave NATO, as Trump previously took pride in strengthening the alliance during his first term.
Meanwhile, Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue. On the war’s third anniversary, Russia launched multiple drone strikes, targeting Kyiv and other regions, including Sumy and Odessa. The attacks caused significant damage to infrastructure, including a polyclinic in Kyiv. Ukrainian forces retaliated with drone strikes on Russia’s Rostov region.
In a new threat, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to target military sites, weapons factories, and decision-making centers in Kyiv using new medium-range missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes Putin’s escalation aims to derail Trump’s peace efforts, saying, “Putin is the only one responsible for this war and the only one who believes in it.”
