Russia Regains Momentum on Battlefields of Ukraine
2025-11-2532 view
Russia has decisively shifted gear in its war on Ukraine, making further advances and consolidating its control of territories in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia throughout November. It also entered the city of Kupyansk in the east of the country, and has encircled the strategic city of Luhansk from three sides.
Ukraine’s military losses coincide with frequent reports of secret negotiations between the U.S. and Russia over a plan to end the war. According to leaks, the plan would put in place a ceasefire, maintain the status quo in Donetsk and Luhansk—i.e. continued Russian control—and prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
Ukrainian forces are also suffering from a decline in the financial support networks that have funded the war since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Ukrainian media reports indicate that key financial backers of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have left Ukraine, while U.S. support has sharply dwindled since Donald Trump retook office in early 2025.
The American president is exerting strong pressure toward ending the war in Ukraine, which has represented a significant economic burden on his country. The war also presents a significant opportunity for China to enhance its economic dominance over the U.S.
Furthermore, Trump appears to be working to restore balance to his country’s international relations, to avoid the formation of an anti-U.S. alliance including Russia, China, and various Middle Eastern countries. To this end, Trump has been working since the start of his second term to mend U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Indeed, this time around, there is a fairly high chance of ending the Ukrainian war, given Russia’s positive response to Trump’s plan—plus the fact that major European countries have not rejected it outright, merely seeking to amend it to address European security concerns.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy’s own statements indicate that Ukraine is in a tight spot, emphasizing that his country faces two options: either lose a key partner (i.e. Washington), or risk jeopardizing its national sovereignty entirely.
