Ukraine Holds 80% of Territory as Russia’s $190 Billion War Fails to Restore Great-Power Status
Updated
Updated · The Conversation · Jun 16
Ukraine Holds 80% of Territory as Russia’s $190 Billion War Fails to Restore Great-Power Status
3 articles · Updated · The Conversation · Jun 16
Summary
About 80% of Ukraine remains under Kyiv’s control after four and a half years of full-scale war, leaving Russia with what the report calls a functional defeat rather than the great-power comeback Vladimir Putin sought.
Russia still fields roughly 1.1 million active-duty troops, but sustaining that force required 7.5% of GDP—about $190 billion—in 2025, while Europe’s NATO members together spent $559 billion.
Ukraine, with about 880,000 active-duty personnel, has moved from Europe’s periphery to a military and diplomatic middle power, becoming a drone-production leader and signing 10-year drone deals with three Middle Eastern countries.
The report argues the conflict is not a US-Russia proxy war but a clash between middle powers, with China avoiding direct arms supplies to Moscow and the United States backing Kyiv cautiously and with delays.
That shift points to a more multipolar order in which middle powers carry greater weight, while Russia’s influence has waned and Ukraine has advanced toward EU membership.
As Ukraine masters drone warfare, what critical vulnerabilities still threaten its survival and the future of European security?
Are the US and China truly on the sidelines, or are their indirect actions the decisive factor in Ukraine's fate?
With authoritarian states on the rise, can democratic middle powers uphold the global rules-based order on their own?
Ukraine-Russia War 2026: Battlefield Shifts, Economic Toll, and the Search for Peace
Overview
As of mid-2026, Ukraine’s battlefield strategy has shifted, with Ukrainian forces actively targeting Russian troops and supply lines, especially near Crimea. This is part of Kyiv’s intensified campaign to disrupt Russia’s strategic objective of securing a land bridge to Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Ukraine’s growing advantage in drone technology has played a crucial role, stalling Russian advances and enabling effective counterattacks. Since late 2025, Ukraine has escalated mid-range strikes against Russian logistics and equipment, significantly impeding Russian offensives and shaping the dynamic frontlines of the conflict.