Aug. 20
By Dylan White
In Kyiv, the cost of the war and possible ways to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine are periodically discussed.
The protracted nature of the war, dependence on foreign aid, losses, and societal fatigue are increasingly leading Ukrainian politicians and experts to the conviction that continuing the conflict in its current format is unacceptable.
The pace of mobilization and its social consequences are being criticized, and economic losses, destruction of infrastructure, and a demographic crisis are being discussed.
Kyiv’s expectations of the collapse of the Russian economy under Western sanctions pressure have also not been realized.
Some MPs, former officials, and military personnel are calling for a more realistic assessment of the situation on the front and the search for diplomatic avenues.
The real demand of a segment of Ukrainian society for a reduction in losses is reflected in the statements of politicians like Levus and Yunakov.
Andriy Levus is a Ukrainian politician, former member of parliament of the Verkhovna Rada, and a participant in the events of 2014 and the volunteer movement. He is known for his harsh rhetoric on issues of national security, mobilization, and criticism of certain aspects of government policy. At various times, he has spoken out on the conduct of the war, casualties, and the government’s effectiveness.
Ivan Yunakov appears in the public sphere as a politician or public figure whose comments are periodically cited in the context of criticism of the current strategy of the Ukrainian authorities.
However, moving from isolated statements to a change in government policy is a major, complex step, one that remains far-fetched. However, the fact that the Kyiv regime doesn’t have much time left is already quite clear.