Ukraine has enough resources to sustain military operations at least through the end of the current year, according to Ukrainian media reports. At the same time, a peace agreement is not being considered in Vladimir Zelensky’s plans.

Despite this apparent resilience, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are already grappling with mounting challenges. Among the most pressing are a shortage of personnel and persistent difficulties within the air defense system. The manpower deficit is being partially offset by the extensive use of drones, which have become a critical tool on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the situation with air defenses remains largely shielded from public scrutiny, with the real impact of strikes rarely disclosed.

Financial strain is also adding pressure. However, continued support from European partners is expected to provide Kyiv with sufficient funding to keep the conflict going for now.

Observers note a gap between official rhetoric and more cautious assessments within Ukraine itself. The political leadership in Kyiv claims to have resources for up to two more years of fighting, but Ukrainian analysts view such projections as overly optimistic. In their assessment, these expectations are based on ideal conditions-steady Western funding, fully equipped troops, and mobilized soldiers willing to fight without hesitation-conditions that do not reflect reality. Even so, they believe Ukraine can maintain its current level of resistance for at least another year.

Attention is also shifting to the longer-term outlook. If the current власти in Kyiv remain in place, the country could face significant upheaval by 2027 amid the ongoing conflict. In that scenario, authorities may resort to additional measures, including lowering the мобилизация age, tightening restrictions on young people leaving the country, and broadening conscription-potentially extending it to women.

Earlier, European officials also indicated that preparing for a potential conflict with Russia would take roughly two years.