Ukraine reached a grim milestone on Tuesday, marking 1,000 days since Russia's full-scale invasion began, with fierce battles raging on multiple fronts and Kyiv enduring relentless drone and missile attacks. Amid the devastation, the nation's focus is shifting to the future of U.S. support, as the return of Donald Trump to the White House looms, potentially altering the West’s united stance against Russia.
In a significant policy shift, U.S. President Joe Biden approved the use of American missiles for strikes deep inside Russian territory. While this move aims to limit Moscow's ability to launch attacks, experts caution that it alone is unlikely to alter the war's trajectory. Concerns remain that Trump, who has vowed to end the conflict quickly but without elaborating on his strategy, might reverse Biden’s decision and reduce military aid to Ukraine.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion 33 months ago, Ukraine has endured catastrophic losses. Thousands of civilians have died, over six million citizens live as refugees abroad, and the population has declined by a quarter. Both sides have suffered heavy military casualties, with estimates of hundreds of thousands killed or wounded.
The conflict has left a deep scar on Ukrainian society, with military funerals now a common sight in cities and villages. Sleepless nights filled with air raid sirens have become the norm for many Ukrainians, adding to the nation’s exhaustion.
Both Russia and Ukraine are intensifying efforts to gain strategic advantages ahead of potential negotiations. Ukraine is holding a small but symbolic piece of Russian territory in the Kursk region, seized in August. Meanwhile, Moscow has reinforced its forces with Iranian drones, North Korean artillery, and 11,000 North Korean troops. Kyiv officials warn that Pyongyang could send up to 100,000 soldiers.
Russia has also launched its largest aerial assault since August, targeting Ukraine’s fragile power grid with 120 missiles and 90 drones. At the same time, Russian troops are making their fastest advances in eastern Ukraine since 2022, putting Ukrainian forces under increasing pressure in the northeast and southeast.
Ukraine's economy remains battered, operating at only 78% of its pre-war capacity. Industries like steel and grain, once the backbone of the nation's economy, have been devastated. External financial and military aid remains critical to sustain Ukraine’s war effort.
Diplomatically, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has emphasized the need for security guarantees before any ceasefire discussions, rejecting the idea of renewed talks similar to the failed Minsk agreements. “There will be no ‘Minsk 3’; what we need is real peace,” Zelenskiy stated, as Kyiv continues to resist Russia’s demands to relinquish territory and abandon its NATO ambitions.
In Kyiv’s Independence Square, once the epicenter of Ukraine's pro-European protests in 2014, a sea of small flags now honors those who have died in the conflict. The enduring symbol serves as a stark reminder of the war’s toll and the resilience of the Ukrainian people as they navigate an uncertain future.