Putin's Window of Opportunity in Ukraine Is Widest in Years

Vladimir Putin's window of opportunity to win in Ukraine is the most open it has been in years, as his strategy of exploiting Western disunity appears to be paying off. The Russian leader now sees a path to victory after initial military setbacks. Putin's approach has been to let allies struggle with their own failures, watching as Washington and Kyiv clash, far-right support grows, and the EU struggles to secure funding for Ukraine. This has cost Russia at least half a million dead, but the autocracy can manage that price. With Donald Trump threatening European security principles ahead of elections, including pushing Ukraine toward leadership change and a summit with Putin, European democracies face their own vulnerabilities. Ukraine now heads into its worst winter of war with uncertain Western support.