War to continue in 2025, intensity of fighting may increase – Ukrainian serviceman

This was stated by Ivan Tymochko, head of the Reservists Council of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, on Espreso TV.

Putin's army didn’t achieve any strategic success in 2024, so Russia will likely try to seize the initiative. Negotiations will only begin with the intervention of leaders who can force Putin to stop the fighting, Tymochko said.

"It’s important to understand what phase the war will enter in 2025 - whether it will remain a phase of active fighting, as it is now, or shift into a long period of negotiations or unstable agreements. But the war with Russia will likely continue for as long as Russia exists within its current borders. Russia will always try to seek revenge until it conquers Ukraine. We’ve seen this over the last 10 years and throughout history, dating back to the days of Moscovia. We need to accept this reality and be as prepared as possible. It’s crucial to prepare the entire population to resist aggression. The more we educate, arm, unite our society, and adapt our lives to the conditions of war, the less likely Russia will be able to launch another attack against us,” Tymochko said.

According to him, the war next year will be more technological. In 2024, new types of forces and weapons, including robotic and unmanned systems, were introduced in Ukraine.

"More and more resources are being allocated for the war. The U.S. has provided additional funding to arm Ukraine. The war will continue into 2025, but we will be able to resist. Ukraine has launched a missile program, and our allies have begun mass production of weapons. Several foreign factories, including Rheinmetall and Bayraktar, have set up operations in Ukraine. But Russia has also increased its military budget by $25 billion for 2025. The war won’t end quickly, even if negotiations start. The process will be long and complicated," Tymochko concluded.

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted that Ukraine must give up its territories, once again proving that Russia has no interest in genuine negotiations.