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1,000 Days of War in Ukraine
After over a thousand days of war, is the conflict widening or waning?
“Since Russia’s all-out invasion of its smaller neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022, Europe’s biggest armed conflict since World War II has cost tens of thousands of lives on both sides,” reported the Associated Press grimly on November 16, 2024. “Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the fighting. Others have lost their family, their homes and their livelihoods.”
Photos from the front lines are horrifying; the ever-growing casualty reports even more so.
President Joe Biden’s strategy to weaken Russia through economic sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine proved ineffective. While the measures were designed to isolate Russia and cripple its economy, unintended consequences appear to have bolstered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s position in key areas.
The election of President-elect Donald Trump has added a new layer of complexity to a situation already on the verge of simmering out of control. Trump, unlike President Biden, is widely expected to push for peace talks once he takes office in January.
Until then, however, the situation seems to be becoming more fraught and dangerous by the day. Those looking to exploit U.S. foreign policy weaknesses during a presidential transfer of power may be disappointed…