During an analytical stream, Kseniia Smirnova welcomes journalist and blogger Ostap Drozdov to discuss the current status of the war in Ukraine, the role of Western partners, and prospects within global politics.
The guest emphasized that gratitude to defenders should go beyond rhetoric. The true goal now is building a strong, prosperous, and safe state in which both defenders and their descendants want to live. Drozdov noted that a classic victory—Russia's capitulation with full territorial return—is highly unlikely now. Both the nature of war and international discourse have changed; Ukrainian society must reconsider what victory truly means.
He observed that political windows for ending the war have largely closed. All key players are increasingly interested in prolonging the conflict, and Ukraine remains a vulnerable buffer lacking its own selfish strategic approach. According to Drozdov, escalation is inevitable, and Western resources are used primarily to secure themselves rather than to resolve Ukraine’s crisis.
The discussion also addressed global disillusionment with Ukraine's story, shifting Western interest to the Middle East, and why Western politicians find it easier to engage with the Palestinian and Israeli issues. The prospect of Russia’s full defeat or capitulation is now unrealistic; the most likely objective is Russia’s economic and resource exhaustion, as even Polish leaders have stated.
The video concludes by highlighting the world’s preparation for escalation and emphasizing that Ukraine needs its own clear strategy—not just sacrifice, but also working for the future and building prospects for its defenders and society as a whole.
