The main conclusion to be drawn is that there is no coherent strategy. There has been a half-step from war of attrition to imposing a sudden-death on Ukraine by strangulation, meaning cutting supply of all Western military materiel by land and sea. However, the recent attacks on the border crossings to Ukraine’s NATO neighbors to the west and northwest were obviously suspended as were attacks on the Ukrainian capital to allow the Baltic States, Norway and Denmark to meet Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday and sign contracts for supply of drones. And surely a similar suspension was made to allow British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to show up in Kiev for its Independence Day on Monday. Meanwhile, there have been no ‘consequences’ for Britain’s supplying the long range attack drones to Kiev responsible for destruction of refineries and logistics centers. And Press Secretary Peskov’s response to the agreement on supply of Storm Shadow manufacturing technology was almost meaningless – that it will damage relations. That is not much of a threat under present conditions.
On the U.S. side there are also open questions which demand discussion on programs like ‘Judging Freedom.’ Is Trump seeking to oust Zelensky? Has Washington been behind the political attacks on Zelensky in the past week by Fedorov’s call for elections now and by a former prime minister’s claim that the investigators of corruption are now circling Zelensky? At present we do not know and can only speculate.
©Gilbert Doctorow, 2026
The news media tends to focus on personalities rather than realities. Replacing Zelensky with some other probably corrupt Ukrainian character will not stop the war, just as replacing President Putin would not stop the fighting and may more likely increase the intensity. Replacing the current "leaders" of European nations could in theory stop the war -- but their replacement with individuals who put their own nations' interests first is very unlikely.
In the meantime, Europe's missile attacks via the Ukraine on Russian refineries are causing a world-wide crisis in diesel supply, which in turn affects almost everything else in the civilized world. What will be the consequences as that linkage becomes clearer -- to citizens in Europe as well as in other parts of the world?
As far as I have read, Putin has not addressed any of this (below) in any speech to the Russian people. AND Witkoff and Kushner were referred to as respected mediators ... yesterday!
Nine killed in Ukrainian attack on passenger bus in Donbass (PHOTOS)
https://www.rt.com/russia/644680-ukrainian-attack-bus-donbass/
Ukraine strikes Donetsk with Storm Shadow missiles – governor (VIDEO)
At least eight civilians, including two minors, were wounded in the strike, Denis Pushilin has said
https://www.rt.com/russia/644687-ukraine-donetsk-storm-shadow/
Four minors dead after Ukrainian attack on childcare center – official
Another six children were injured during a barrage in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, the authorities said
https://www.rt.com/russia/644569-russian-childcare-center-strike/