Ukraine’s victory must be more than a military outcome. Ukraine is entering another winter of war — nearly twelve years since the first russian invasion, almost four years since the full-scale assault. And across the country, you can feel the exhaustion. People are tired. The news cycle is heavy. Families are separated. Plans are uncertain. Entire generations are growing up under air-raid sirens. It often feels as if the future is shrinking, writes Associate Professor of Economics at Case Western Reserve University Roman Sheremeta.
And yet — this is exactly the moment when nations decide who they are. On December 1, 1991, Ukrainians made a historic choice: independence, dignity, and the right to decide their own destiny. Today, that choice is being tested again. Not in a referendum, but on the battlefield, in classrooms, in hospitals, in volunteer centers, and in every home where people refuse to give up.
russia’s goal is brutally simple: Ukraine must cease to exist. Not just as a territory, but as an identity, a culture, a democratic idea. This is why every discussion about “settlements” or “deals” is so dangerous. Peace cannot be a transaction. Freedom cannot be bartered. A nation cannot be sold.Ukraine’s victory must be multidimensional.
Militarily, victory means denying russia the ability to threaten Ukraine — making its aggression meaningless. It means precision, innovation, drones, fortified cities, secure skies, and the steady degradation of russia’s capacity to wage war.
Politically, victory means safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty, democratic institutions, identity, and Ukrainians’ right to choose their alliances — without external vetoes, ultimatums, or “spheres of influence.”
Humanly, victory means building a country where people want to live: with rule of law, real opportunity, strong institutions, and respect for human dignity. A Ukraine where a child’s future is not defined by a missile map.
This moment demands clarity. No illusions. No fear. And no retreat.
Ukraine will survive.
Ukraine will endure.
Ukraine will prevail.
