Why hasn’t Vladimir Putin ended the war in Ukraine?
In this video, based on a Kyiv Post opinion article, we explore why the Russian president cannot afford to stop the invasion.
The invasion of Ukraine, intended to be swift and victorious, has become a prolonged, costly war with no end in sight.
Over 700,000 Russian soldiers have fought, many returning traumatized and violent. The Russian economy now depends on war.
Politically, the war provides cover for silencing dissent, eliminating opposition, and justifying authoritarian rule.
And while Putin fails to achieve his original goals, Ukraine has grown more united and militarily capable. NATO has expanded, and Europe is rearming in response.
Putin is now trapped, unable to win, unwilling to end the war, and dependent on it to maintain power. Ending it would collapse the illusion sustaining his rule.