In the months prior to the November 2024 presidential election in the United States, Donald Trump claimed that if elected to office, he would end the war in Ukraine “in one day.” By Christmas Eve, the president-elect had moderated his claim, suggesting only that he would bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
On several counts, Trump’s chances seem slim if the object is to find a solution acceptable to both sides.
Russia’s war is costly in terms of human losses for territory gained. A recent report stated that the Russian army was losing 1,500 troops per day in the eastern region of Donbas as it attempts to break through Ukrainian resistance. The death toll has led to fears of a demographic crisis for ethnic Russians. According to one analyst, it could result in a population that is “smaller …more fragile and less well educated.”
