Former Ukrainian army chief gives grim forecast on duration of war
Photo: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom (Getty Images)
If Ukraine does not take care of its future defense, the full-scale war could drag on until 2034 or even longer, according to Ukraine's ambassador to the UK and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in an interview with LB.ua.
According to Zaluzhnyi, since 2024, the full-scale war has entered an entirely new phase — one of "attrition." Today, the front line primarily serves to eliminate the enemy — "the more, the better" — while everything else is happening in the rear.
"If we try to pursue only a ceasefire without building up our defense for the future, then it (the full-scale war - ed.) will drag on for a long time. It started in 2014, and God willing, it might end by 2034," he added.
How long the war may last
In early July, experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) updated their forecast regarding the duration of the full-scale war in Ukraine. According to the baseline scenario, intense hostilities could come to an end by late 2025.
According to France’s Strategic National Review, the war in Ukraine could continue for up to five more years.
The issue of an unconditional ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is actively being raised on the international stage. In particular, the Ukrainian delegation continues to insist on this during negotiations with the Russian side. The latter, however, has repeatedly rejected this proposal or attached conditions to it.
