In an in-depth interview, journalist and political commentator Vitaliy Portnikov discusses the main events of the week and the profound social shifts taking place in Ukraine amidst its war with Russia.
Portnikov notes that, by the fourth year of the full-scale war, Ukrainian society is experiencing a paradox: war is gradually becoming the norm for entire generations. Children who started school during wartime get used to power outages, generators, missile strikes, and other daily aspects of conflict. Portnikov refers to this phenomenon as "Lebanonization"—society adapting to chronic instability instead of lasting peace.
He emphasizes that such adaptation is dangerous. There is a real risk that Ukrainians could lose the ability to live peacefully, as violence and loss become normalized. This deep trauma could shape the country for generations. At the same time, the aggressor (Russia) aims to make war seem ordinary for both Ukrainians and the international community.
Portnikov highlights that the normalization of war—and the declining global reaction to new missile attacks on Ukrainian cities—poses an additional threat. Such indifference signals to Russia that these attacks may go unpunished.
The interview also analyzes Western tactics, particularly from the US and Europe. Portnikov notes that the supporting Ukraine while weakening the Russian economy is an indefinite strategy, one which could exhaust Ukrainian society. He defines strategic victory for Ukraine as the preservation of its statehood and the weakening of Russian statehood.
Special attention is given to Western leadership and the role of Donald Trump. Portnikov argues that US reluctance to engage in direct confrontation with Russia is rooted in both fear and economic interests. He calls on Ukrainians and the world not to accept war as normal and to recognize the ongoing tragedy that Ukraine faces.
