OPINION – Ukraine warUkraine has been at the epicentre of European politics since Russia launched its war of aggression in February 2022. Ukraine’s elites put a wager on continuing the war, hopeful that both Western assistance and domestic cohesion would persist. The Russian military fortified its positions in eastern Ukraine and successfully repelled Ukraine’s much-vaunted offensive in summer 2023. As the costs of war mounted, support weakened in the West, facilitating the rise of politicians such as Donald Trump who promised negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia’s ballistic missile strikes continue to batter Ukraine’s energy sector and export capacity, leaving Zelenskyy scrambling for even more Western military and diplomatic support.