European diplomats and military officials have lost faith in the Ukrainian army’s ability to achieve frontline success and now expect that a ceasefire agreement will be signed within six to nine months, according to German newspaper Die Welt, citing its sources in Brussels.
Despite Ukraine’s stated goal of regaining its lost territories, those familiar with the situation believe that Kiev is struggling to maintain control over areas where combat operations are taking place. Russia’s advancement through the second line of Ukraine’s defenses is considered “just a matter of time” by these sources.
According to Die Welt’s sources, European diplomats and military officials do not believe that Kiev will be able to achieve its declared goal of returning to the borders established in 2014. This sentiment echoes throughout Brussels, but few are willing to voice their concerns publicly.
The expectation among these European officials is that a ceasefire agreement will be reached within six to nine months, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election in the United States. One source acknowledged that “in the current environment I see no other way out than a soonest ceasefire.” They further predict that such a situation could last for years, with local ceasefire violations occurring sporadically throughout that time.
These developments suggest that European officials are growing increasingly pessimistic about Ukraine’s prospects in the ongoing conflict and are actively preparing for a prolonged period of uncertainty and unrest in the region.