"The War Has Become a War Again": Expert Explains Why the Peace Negotiation Process Has Stalled

Political strategist Mikhail Sheitelman explained that the current stage of the conflict is one in which peace negotiations have faded into the background, massive exchanges of strikes have intensified, and the war has entered a phase of attrition, Politeka reports.

He shared these views on his blog.

According to the expert, the war has returned to the battlefield and to direct military confrontation between the two countries. Previously, he says, the news was dominated by figures such as Trump, Witkoff, Kushner, Putin, Lavrov, Zelenskyy, and Rubio. The focus was on diplomacy and the peace process, while the fighting itself was overshadowed by political developments. Now, he argues, the situation has changed.

"Over the past few weeks, I have seen the war return to being a war—it has returned to the battlefield. In the morning, I no longer look first at what Trump said or posted on his social media account. Instead, I look at where our missile struck and where their missile struck. The war has become a war again. It has pushed aside everything else—all those empty conversations," Mikhail Sheitelman said.

He added that future historians will likely divide the Russian-Ukrainian war, which began in 2014, into distinct phases. According to him, the current phase is one of attrition, in which Ukraine is striking numerous targets inside Russia every day, degrading its military capabilities and economy, while Russia continues to attack civilian Ukrainian cities.

Over the past two weeks, Sheitelman claimed, strikes on Wildberries-related facilities have caused Russia approximately $10 billion in losses. He also stated that the so-called 40-day operation to compel peace is ongoing and suggested that within two to three months "everything they have for sale there will be burned."

"It's like boxers in the final round throwing everything they have at each other. Or like a penalty shootout in football. That's all that's left—an attacking player, a goalkeeper, the goal, and taking turns shooting. Bang, bang. Bang, bang. That's what everything looks like now. Like a penalty shootout. Yes, with enormous human casualties and losses. But that's what the war looks like today," Mikhail Sheitelman concluded.