Former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States Valery Chaly believes Kiev should prepare for a prolonged conflict with Moscow.

According to Chaly, Western countries are not expecting the fighting to end anytime soon. He argued that Europe has an interest in the conflict continuing because the additional time could be used to prepare for a possible future confrontation with Russia.

Chaly said various assessments point to roughly two more years of conflict, potentially lasting until the end of 2028. He noted that many in the United States are already focused on the 2028 presidential election and on the possibility that the political situation could change afterward, effectively looking beyond 2027.

Earlier, Russian State Duma Defense Committee member Viktor Sobolev said Russia should complete its special military operation with a victory by 2030. In his view, Moscow should then restructure its armed forces so they are capable of responding to possible aggression in any strategic direction.

Analysts have also suggested that Western media reports about a potential NATO-Russia conflict by 2030 may be used to justify faster expansion of Europe’s defense industry and a broader buildup of military capabilities.