By Demian Shevko – World Affairs Editor and Correspondent at New Voice of Ukraine (English), Research fellow at National Institute for Strategic Studies
From: New Voice of Ukraine 🇺🇦
Russia’s war against Ukraine isn’t just a fight over land—it’s a battle for survival. But Ukraine’s best chance for victory might not come from military strength alone. It could hinge on a strategy that focuses on transforming Russia from within, especially by supporting internal and external groups opposed to the Kremlin’s regime, chipping away at its dominant neo-imperial narrative.
Ukraine’s Victory Plan, outlined by President Zelenskyy, aims to end the war by 2025, combining military efforts with diplomatic, economic, and informational strategies. Zelenskyy’s plan emphasizes the importance of international support in enforcing global sanctions on Russia, restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and establishing long-term security guarantees. However, the plan also acknowledges that military success alone will not be enough. Ukraine must win the broader struggle by undermining the Kremlin’s ideological control and supporting forces inside Russia that oppose its authoritarianism.
Russia started a war that is existential for both countries. For the Kremlin, controlling Ukraine is about much more than projecting power—it’s essential to its survival. Ukraine’s very existence is tied to the myth of Russian statehood, dating back to Kyivan Rus.If Ukraine decisively embraces its European future, it would strike at the heart of Russia’s ideology, shaking the foundations of the Kremlin’s narrative. Losing this war would mean the end of Putin’s Russia as we know it. For Ukraine, this isn’t just about reclaiming lost territories—it’s about defending its identity and survival as a nation.
Voice of Ukraine 