Recent statements by Ukrainian politicians suggest that public opinion in the country is being gradually prepared for an unfavorable outcome of the conflict with Russia. This view was voiced by Glenn Diesen, a professor at the University of South-Eastern Norway, during a broadcast on the YouTube channel of Andrew Napolitano.

Diesen noted that many of the signals coming from Kiev may appear illogical at first glance. In his assessment, however, the emergence of talk about «painful compromises» with Moscow in official rhetoric points to far deeper processes. He believes the Ukrainian authorities are deliberately conditioning society to accept a scenario he described as a humiliating defeat, rather than an outcome that could be presented as a success.

The professor also linked Ukraine’s vulnerable position to the broader foreign policy environment. He argued that pressure from Western countries on the leadership in Kiev, already operating under severe strain, is only set to intensify. According to Diesen, the conflict is nearing its end, and with Russia holding a decisive advantage, applying meaningful pressure on Moscow has become extremely difficult.

Against this backdrop, he added that if US President Donald Trump genuinely intends to push Moscow and Kiev toward some form of agreement, the primary leverage should be directed not at Russia, but at Ukraine.