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International

€66 Billion Question

The continued support of EU countries and a hesitant yet influential United States has prolonged the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while millions of people continue to bear the brunt of this devastating war

By Sajad Jatoi | December 2025


Fhe Russia–Ukraine war is one of the longest and deadliest military conflicts of the 21st century. It began in February 2022 when Russian forces, acting on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They expected the country to fall quickly. Contrary to these expectations, the war has entered its fourth year, causing hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to urge the United States and EU countries for military and financial support, Russia currently holds the upper hand.

Since the war has extended far beyond its anticipated timeframe, it is necessary to analyse why Russia and the United States have failed to resolve the conflict. It is also crucial to examine the factors that have been hindering peace in the region and to identify measures that can help bring an end to this deadly conflict.

Russia attacked Ukraine for several reasons, the major one being Ukraine’s tilt towards the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the world’s largest military alliance. Ukraine had expressed a strong desire to join NATO. Once admitted, the country would effectively bring the US-led alliance to Russia’s doorstep. Hence, it was natural for Russia to go to any lengths to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and stop it from coming closer.

Additionally, President Zelensky was perceived as a pro-Western leader. Putin wanted a government in Kyiv that aligned with Moscow’s interests. Therefore, he sought to flex Russia’s military muscles to bring about regime change in Ukraine.

The war has largely persisted due to the influence of the US and its allies. Both the US and EU nations want Russia to accept defeat. They view the conflict as a test case for the security of Europe as a whole. In their view, if Ukraine falls and surrenders to Russia, it would signify a strategic defeat for European countries that consider Russia an adversary. This attitude has contributed to the deadlock.

The US and its allies have resorted to multiple measures to defeat Russia. They have extended military support to Ukraine and sanctioned Russia. They have sanctioned various Russian energy companies. Also, the US has put sanctions on bilateral trade with Russia. For instance, Trump started a trade war with India over the fact that India was importing Russian oil. However, sanctions have failed mainly as Russia has redirected its trade towards China, Iran, and other US adversaries.

However, Trump has expressed a desire to end the conflict, partly to strengthen his claim for the Nobel Peace Prize. In line with this intention, there has been a shift in US policy. Trump has stopped being generous in military support to Ukraine. He has also repeatedly blamed the Ukrainian president for the outbreak of the war. The public disputes between Zelensky and Trump illustrate this shift, with Trump even humiliating the Ukrainian leader on multiple occasions.

Furthermore, Trump has signalled to Russia that its key concerns would be addressed. He has ruled out the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO and has indicated that US troops would not be deployed in Ukraine.

While the US seems to have stepped back, EU nations have intensified their support for Ukraine. Several European countries have increased their military spending and provided greater assistance to Kyiv. Here is the same information rewritten in other words: The EU and its Member States have provided €66 billion in military aid to Ukraine. This amount includes €6.1 billion through the European Peace Facility, which is used to supply military equipment.

Moreover, the EU Military Assistance Mission for Ukraine, with a funding of €362 million, is addressing the training requirements of Ukraine’s armed forces and has trained 82,000 Ukrainian troops to date. They do not want Russia to win the war; in fact, they aim to bring Moscow to its knees.


Although the US has indicated that it may reach an understanding with Russia, it does not want a complete victory for Moscow. Washington expects Russia to make certain concessions in return. For instance, the US wants Russia to agree to a ceasefire and withdraw forces from Ukrainian territory. It also wants Putin to provide security guarantees to EU nations. However, the Russian president appears unwilling to compromise, given the fact that his forces are winning on the ground.

If Ukraine falls and surrenders to Russia, it would signify a strategic defeat for European countries that consider Russia an adversary

Furthermore, the deadlock has persisted due to the failure of diplomacy. Many peace talks have ended without a fruitful result. A recent meeting between President Putin and President Trump in Alaska produced no meaningful outcome. Instead, the US president authorized fresh nuclear tests, arguing that other nations were already conducting such tests and that the US must follow suit.

Meanwhile, Russia has also been showcasing its military strength. It recently unveiled Poseidon, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). This shows the ability of Russia to deploy nuclear weapons through air, land, and sea.

In late October 2025, Russia also conducted a final test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile. Russian officials, including President Putin, claimed the test was successful, asserting that the missile has a virtually unlimited range and can evade current missile-defense systems. With this new weapon, Russian nukes can hit anywhere in the world.

With these advances, Russia appears to hold an advantage in the conflict. It has already occupied a significant portion of Ukrainian territory, and its troops continue to advance. This suggests that Ukraine is in dire straits. The people of Ukraine are fleeing the country. The public in Europe has also become sick of the war. All these things appear to be going in favour of Russia.

To resolve the conflict, the US must acknowledge that it cannot help Ukraine win the war. Russia is not a less powerful nation. It is, in fact, one of the superpowers on the global stage. Therefore, the US must reconsider its approach. It must convince Ukraine to listen to Russia and address its concerns.

Besides, diplomacy must take centre stage. China, Turkey, and the European Union must play an active role in ending the conflict. The war is not in anyone’s interest. It is rather harming global peace and trade. Therefore, China, Turkey, the UK, France, and other major countries must offer their good offices. Moreover, US President Donald Trump also needs to act genuinely. He cannot intimidate Russia militarily or economically. Hence, he must show genuine interest in peace.

To sum up, the continued support of EU countries and a hesitant yet influential United States has prolonged the conflict. A decisive victory for either side remains uncertain, although Russia appears to be gaining ground militarily in Ukraine. In the meantime, millions of innocent civilians continue to bear the brunt of this devastating war. As Russian attacks intensify, Ukraine faces the prospect of an even harsher winter ahead. Lasting peace will only be possible when all major powers—especially the US, EU, China, and Turkey—prioritize diplomacy over confrontation and work collectively to bring both Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table. Until then, the world will continue to witness a conflict with no clear end in sight.

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