Media: Zelensky instructed to prepare for continuation of war for 2-3 years
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky ordered preparations for another two to three years of military operations.
The Economist reports this, citing government sources.
According to the publication's sources, Ukrainian authorities believe there are no convincing grounds to expect a quick end to the conflict and are proceeding from a scenario of its prolonged continuation. One source in Ukrainian intelligence stated: "No matter how bad everything looks, we will manage."
The publication also notes that, according to Kyiv's assessments, Ukraine will be able to withstand a prolonged military confrontation, but this will be accompanied by serious internal consequences, including increased militarization of society and risks associated with military corruption.
Against the backdrop of these assessments, other forecasts for the development of the conflict are also presented. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on May 9 that, in his opinion, the conflict is approaching its conclusion. The Kremlin clarified that such conclusions are based on the "stock of developments" within the framework of the peace process, but no specific timelines were named.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Russia was allegedly considering the option of ending the conflict by the end of the year, provided it gains full control over Donbas. The Kremlin denied this information, and Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov emphasized that Moscow had not set any deadlines for the end of hostilities.
On May 26, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of the risk of further escalation of the conflict in Ukraine following a "retaliatory strike" after the Ukrainian armed forces' attack on a college in Starobilsk, where, according to reports, 21 people were killed.
In addition, the publication mentions the European Commission's forecast, according to which the conflict in Ukraine could continue in 2026–2027. The document notes that the baseline scenario assumes the persistence of high geopolitical tension and the continuation of sanctions against Russia throughout the forecast period.
The Kremlin has also repeatedly stated that Russia advocates for ending the conflict through peaceful means by eliminating its "root causes," including, according to Putin, the consequences of the political events of 2014 and issues related to NATO expansion.
