Part 4/11:
At the core of the conflict is the question of whether it was a war solely against Ukraine or more of a proxy war involving Russia and the United States. With stagnation on the battlefield, Friedman asserts that negotiations are not just inevitable—they are essential. The U.S. and Russia must engage, given that neither side is in a position to decisively win. The landscape, as painted by Friedman, makes it clear that Ukraine serves as the stage for this broader geopolitical ballet, with myriad international interests at play.