Yet, the war in Ukraine has continued to grind on because of the personal fate of the leader in charge. For Putin, peace poses a greater threat to his survival than continued war. Putin’s Personal WarFor a leader like Putin, ending the war in Ukraine on anything less than “victory” would expose him to significant domestic political repercussions. How Can the Ukraine War End? The war in Ukraine, driven by the personal survival of Putin, will not end without significant external pressure.