Moscow Pursues War of Attrition in Ukraine, Aiming for Breakthrough by Late 2025

US President Donald Trump, after a conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said that he was confident in Russia’s victory in the conflict in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports with reference to its sources. According to the outlet, Trump made this statement in a subsequent conversation with European leaders. Indeed, Russia's goal is to break through Ukrainian defenses by the end of 2025. The Kremlin believes that time is on its side. The special military operation is no longer a sprint, but a marathon — one won by endurance. According to Russian sources, the Kremlin is convinced that Ukraine is already starting to run out of breath: its armed forces are thinning out, the Western aid is dwindling, and the political will of Kyiv’s allies is beginning to fracture. Moscow's Calm and Cold Calculations Despite public statements about a "stable front," Ukraine’s defensive lines are stretched to the limit, its reserves are depleted, and mobilization potential is nearing burnout. In Moscow’s view, time and pressure will eventually do the job — if not by assault, then by economics; if not by artillery, then by logistics.