As winter approaches, Russia is intensifying systematic daily attacks on Ukrainian civilians, their homes, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure, leading to rising casualties and shortages of food and essentials. The Kremlin's campaign, now in its fifth year, has turned cities like Kyiv into targets of relentless missile and drone strikes, destroying supermarket distribution hubs, pharmaceutical facilities, and logistics centers.
According to foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall, writing in The Guardian, Russia's strategy is to break Ukraine's will through terror, with Vladimir Putin reportedly telling Donald Trump that the "special military operation" is going to plan. Western analysts dispute this, noting Russia's military failures and heavy casualties, as well as growing domestic economic and public pressure to end the war.
Escalating Attacks and Civilian Suffering
The attacks have sharply increased civilian casualties and created shortages of food and other essentials. Russia is expected to again target Ukraine's water supplies and power grid, potentially cutting off electricity to millions as freezing temperatures set in. This is described as "Putin's version of darkness at noon," with the author stating, "He'd rather kill everybody than admit he's lost."
The recent visit of Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoys, to Moscow and Kyiv has perpetuated Kremlin delusions of victory, according to Tisdall. Despite months of inertia, Trump's renewed meddling has not halted the violence, and each day brings new crimes against humanity.
Western Inaction and Its Consequences
The principal reason for NATO's inaction is chronic US ambivalence and unreliability, which has turned Ukraine into a seemingly irresolvable forever war. Former President Joe Biden provided support in 2022 but left Ukraine to fend for itself, while Trump has paused weapons deliveries and backtracked on allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missile interceptors. Europe has failed to fill the gap, leaving Ukraine more vulnerable to air attacks.
Trump's fawning treatment of Putin, seen at the Alaska summit in August 2026, and his bullying of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, undermine Ukraine's resistance and European security. Vulnerable civilians pay the price, with many Ukrainians weary of war. A recent poll suggests about 60% oppose ceding Donbas land to Russia, but a similar number would support a ceasefire backed by western security guarantees that freezes current positions.
Forever Wars and the Need for Intervention
The absence of credible, independent peace processes hampers efforts to end conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran. Trump's self-serving motives, including a desire for a Nobel peace prize and lucrative Russian energy deals, have not helped. The author argues that impartial, UN-empowered peace envoys are desperately needed to mediate.
Forever wars develop in the absence of authoritative legal frameworks, with leaders like Putin, Trump, and Netanyahu showing contempt for the post-1945 world order. This has led to war crime atrocities in Gaza, Bucha, Mariupol, and Minab, where a US Tomahawk cruise missile allegedly killed more than 100 schoolgirls in February. The culprits almost invariably escape punishment, creating a culture of impunity.
Obstruction of public scrutiny through restricted media access and selective information release further prolongs conflicts. Israel's army has restricted journalists' access to Gaza, while US defense secretary Pete Hegseth releases limited information about Iran operations, leading to under-reporting of Iranian strikes on US bases. Russian state media censors news from Ukraine, leaving most Russians unaware of the war's true course.
Ultimately, forever wars are caused by failing leaders who promise too much, underestimate opponents, and ignore peaceful alternatives. Ukraine's people, facing a season from hell, urgently need additional assistance. Western democracies cannot sit on their hands as the civilian toll mounts. NATO must switch to the offensive, make clear that more war crimes will not be tolerated, threaten to strike Russian drone and missile launch sites from the air, and force Putin to back off before his forever war becomes everybody's war.
