Society and politicians in Ukraine are anxiously awaiting possible decisions about the war, with growing discussion of the only realistic scenario: freezing the conflict. Most political and media narratives now revolve around the possibility of ending hostilities and moving to a "freeze" format.
The concept of a "freeze" is voiced by both Western and some Ukrainian politicians, including US and EU leaders, and members of the Kyiv government. This classical approach to prolonged conflicts focuses on stopping fighting where feasible.
Ukraine’s military and political elite are gradually acknowledging that regaining all lost territory by military means is currently unrealistic. This has been explicitly or implicitly acknowledged by the president’s office, and Western media report similar attitudes forming in Kyiv.
The main issue for the future is the status of the occupied territories. Possible scenarios point toward a formula of "unrecognized, but de facto lost," similar to the precedents of Transnistria or South Ossetia.
The shift from an irrational hope for military victory to a pragmatic assessment of options is driven by internal developments and the need to synchronize with global leaders' positions.
Future official decisions on the war’s outcome are still pending, but both society and authorities are preparing for a diplomatic or frozen peace option.
