Putin sees no reason to end war

In a war that has lasted for years, many people are ready to grasp at any signals, interpreting them as positive. This is typical wishful thinking — mistaking what is desired for reality.

Both Ukrainian and Western politicians contribute to this. Zelenskyy says, “Now is the moment when there is a real chance to achieve peace.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer states, “There is a real chance for a ceasefire.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz writes in his post that “there is real hope for peace in Ukraine,” though in the Ukrainian tweet version, the word “real” is omitted.

All this fuels expectations that everything will end on Friday. And we truly want to believe it. No one desires the end of the war more than Ukrainians.

Yesterday I wrote a long text about what to expect from the Alaska meeting, so I won’t repeat myself. The problem is that the chances of ending the war on Friday are minimal. If they exist at all, they are no greater than winning the lottery, literally one in a million.

Putin sees no reason to end the war. He is not afraid of sanctions and has already proven that no economic restrictions affect his desire to fight.

So for those who are desperately hoping for Alaska and a “war to end on Friday,” these talks will bring only deep disappointment. To avoid this, one should not deceive themselves or fuel empty hopes.

Tomorrow’s negotiations are important, but they will certainly not bring the desired end to the war.

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About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament.

The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by blog or column authors.