Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should consider earlier insights from U.S. military leaders regarding the war with Russia. Mark Milley, in a November 2022 talk, emphasized that military victory might not be achievable and indicated that Ukraine should pursue negotiations. He pointed out that wars are ultimately decided by battlefield outcomes rather than political narratives. This perspective aligns with the views of Ukrainian commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who concluded a year later that seeking a diplomatic resolution was essential, reflecting on the moral implications of continued conflict without clear political objectives.
Milley insisted that "victory is probably not achievable through military means" and suggested Ukraine should look for a "window of opportunity for negotiation."
Milley's insights reflect the harsh reality that outcomes in wars are determined on the battlefield, not by politicians' narratives.
War, according to Clausewitz, is politics by other means; if the military doesn’t advance a political purpose, its use is unjustifiable.
A year after Milley’s remarks, Ukrainian commander Zaluzhnyi reached similar conclusions about the need for negotiation.
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