As its counteroffensive stalls, Ukraine signals readiness for a long war

Amid talk of stalemate, long waits for western weapons and attention diverted to Gaza, experts say the conflict could last into 2025

Ukraine's counteroffensive has stalled, with progress on the two principal axes on the southern front modest since it began on 4 June. Kyiv's forces have advanced about 10km south of Velyka Novosilka and 9km south of Orikhiv and there appears no prospect of a breakthrough as the weather turns.

Last week, the reality was acknowledged by Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief of Kyiv's military. Just like in the first world war, we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate," he said in an interview with the Economist, while in a related essay he added that the war, after nearly 21 months of fighting, is gradually moving to a positional form".