Foreign Media: The Prolonged Russia-Ukraine Conflict Has Far-Reaching Impacts

Reference News Network, June 17 report The Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung published an article on June 13, titled "The Duration of the Ukraine War Has Exceeded That of World War I, Profoundly Shaping a New Global Order," authored by the newspaper's deputy editor-in-chief, Ivo Meinzen. The full translation is as follows:

The Ukraine war has lasted for 1,570 days. As a result, the duration of this war has surpassed that of World War I. There are currently no signs that the conflict will subside. On the contrary, both sides are demonstrating their ability to launch more intense strikes and are unafraid of escalating the situation: Ukraine launched attacks during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, indicating its capability to easily hit Russia's power centers. Almost simultaneously, the Russians also attacked Kyiv in early June.

The Ukraine war has long spread to other regions: in the Middle East, one can clearly see how the front lines are rapidly shifting to another part of the world. Although the Americans want to extricate themselves, they and their Gulf allies are feeling the impact of the drone revolution firsthand. This dynamic is both intricate and dangerous—it reflects a world order in which rules are changing dramatically.

Today, the position of the Americans is more contradictory than ever. Their weapons are still being used on the battlefield, and their satellite reconnaissance enables Ukrainians to launch attacks deep into Russian territory. However, at the same time, Washington's ability to influence Kyiv's actions has noticeably weakened. The Ukrainians distrust the Americans, and due to Washington's obstruction of supplies, Ukrainian cities are increasingly exposed to Russian missiles. Therefore, Ukraine is trying to take the initiative into its own hands. They are manufacturing their own cruise missiles and have doubled the number of attacks on Russia within a year.

This complex situation has led to a stalemate on the front lines a year and a half after Trump took office. For the Ukrainians, this war is devastating regardless. But surprisingly, the current situation for Ukraine is not as dire as it was before Trump took office. Russia will not give up without achieving results. Like the Ukrainians, the Russians also believe that this war will determine the future world order.

The U.S. government's strategy has reinforced the belief on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides that time is on their side. Both are seeking to escalate the conflict before exhaustion forces them to ceasefire. Solutions to key issues such as control of Donbas, border delineation, and security guarantees remain a distant prospect. Therefore, the war will continue.

The conflicts in Iran and Ukraine are now closely intertwined. The two great powers, the U.S. and Russia, are currently realizing that they may not be able to quickly break through the enemy's defenses with existing means.

The reasons can also be found on the battlefield in Ukraine: Kyiv has been able to withstand Moscow's overwhelming advantage for more than four years because it has manufactured drones. Millions of drones. These weapons are not only inexpensive but can also be continuously developed without a highly advanced defense industry. Both the Russians and Ukrainians experience daily how difficult it is to defend against each other's swarms of drones. Since February, the Americans and Gulf countries have also come to understand this.

Thus, the interaction of the two wars has created an extremely complex situation. Its impact has long transcended Iran and Ukraine, directly involving the U.S. and Russia.

Trump's erratic policies have made it difficult for both allies and enemies to gauge direction. In a world without a leading power, uncertainty is intensifying due to the lack of clear rules. This could lead to widespread conflict. In the worst-case scenario, the wars in Ukraine and the Gulf region could spread to other parts of the world. These two conflicts also demonstrate that the drone revolution has provided a clear advantage to weaker participants. For great powers, the cost of intervention has therefore increased.

The current stalemate forming in Ukraine and Iran is likely to become a template for future conflicts. It is evident that the world will not return to a state of clarity and order. (Translation/ Nie Litiao)