The war in Ukraine: how will it end?
With the onset of winter and Russia's strategy of attacking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, the war of aggression against Ukraine has entered a new phase. Looking beyond the daily news, commentators in Europe's press reflect on the latest developments and the overall outlook.
Escalation on the horizon
The weekly Documento sees no sign of the war ending any time soon:
“No one is satisfied with the result. Russia has not managed to gain control of the Ukrainian regions that are useful for its hegemony in the post-Soviet space. The West has not secured Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic future. Kyiv is losing significant territories. These are conditions that favour an escalation of the war.”
Denial of the fact that we are a war party
Author Isaac Rosa sees a revealing lack of genuine public debate on the war. In eldiario.es, he comments:
“The best proof that we are a party to this war is the united front presented by the media. ... The unity of opinion. ... The likes of which we have never seen in other wars. This propaganda includes not saying that we have got ourselves involved in a war that is causing enormous destruction and thousands of deaths, the geopolitical consequences of which will only become apparent in the medium and long term. ... I am well aware of the reasons for intervening; you don't need to convince me, I know who Putin is. What I am saying here is that there has been no public debate on this issue. ... We are denying the obvious: that we have become involved in a war.”
Tribunal as leverage
Corriere della Sera supports Zelensky's idea of setting up a tribunal for Russian war criminals along the lines of the Nuremberg trials:
“The conviction that the outcome of the fighting can strengthen an eventual negotiating position is in principle typical of any conflict and in some respects understandable. However, it is precisely this conviction that must be overcome in order to avoid further victims and further bloodshed. ... In this sense, the proposal for an international special tribunal to put Moscow's political and military leadership on trial for the crimes committed in Ukraine gains crucial importance with a view to the future and represents a formidable means of exerting pressure.”
Darkness and cold are preferable to Russia
The Russian war strategy of trying to crush the courage of the Ukrainian people by bombing the country's infrastructure will not work, Público is convinced:
“Faced with defeat on the battlefield, Putin has changed his strategy. ... The destruction of Ukraine through cold and hardship is the goal. So far without visible results. Given the choice between the cold and Russia, the Ukrainians still prefer the cold. Between darkness and Russia, they still prefer darkness. Between the fear of missiles and Russia, Ukrainians prove every day anew their unwavering ability to overcome fear.”