On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the Abaad Center for Strategic Studies held a dialogue session via the “X” platform, about the future of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the prospects for the possible outcomes that US President Donald Trump seeks after assuming power again.
The session was hosted by:
• A. Firas Burzan, writer specializing in international affairs.
• Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hamza, Syrian academic and politician.
The dialogue was moderated by Mr. Ayham Maqdisi, Research Assistant at the Abaad Center for Strategic Studies.
The session addressed the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, which is entering its third year, with a focus on the potential outcomes at the local and international levels, especially in light of Trump’s return to the US presidency.
The participants discussed the field and tactical situation of the Russian army in Ukraine over the past month and a half, which witnessed a significant advance by the Russian army on the Donetsk axis in southeastern Ukraine, in addition to the state of exhaustion suffered by both sides due to human losses and the use of heavy weapons, in addition to Russia’s intensive targeting of Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Participants also pointed out that the Ukrainian army, after receiving military support from NATO, is still holding out on several fronts, especially in the Donbas region, where the battle continues in a state of back-and-forth, without a final outcome yet.
At the end of the session, participants concluded that the continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian war could have profound and complex consequences, both domestically and internationally. The conflict is expected to escalate further if the policy of attrition between the two sides continues, which could significantly impact regional stability in Europe and global security.
At the same time, participants noted that Donald Trump’s return to power could see a shift in US policy toward the conflict, as Trump is likely to seek to reassess US support for Ukraine and perhaps open new channels of communication with Russia, which could lead to a shift in the dynamics of the war, either by accelerating negotiations or, conversely, by intensifying the conflict.
