The year 2025 has come to an end. A year of unjustified hopes and unfulfilled expectations — above all, hopes for the end of the war, for stopping Russia’s aggression and crimes on Ukrainian land. These expectations were closely tied to the coming to power in the United States of President Donald Trump, who during the election campaign promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.их перегонів обіцяв завершити війну в Україні за 24 години.
It turned out that those “24 hours” first stretched into two weeks, then another two or three, later into 50 days, and then into the following months. Eventually, an entire year passed, and the war still did not end. The promise proved to be an empty electoral slogan. Or perhaps we simply misunderstood Mr. Trump. After all, he did not promise us victory. He was apparently planning to hand Ukraine over to Putin, to facilitate its capitulation to the aggressor — and thus “end” the war in 24 hours.
Because in the very first days of his presidency, Donald Trump began calling Putin, consulting with him, listening to his demands, and making concessions. Remember how it started: there was the idea of stopping fire along the frontline and halting strikes on civilian targets, and only then moving on to agreeing on the terms of a ceasefire and a peace plan. Zelensky agreed to this, Trump himself agreed — but Putin did not. He demanded that a peace treaty be signed first, and only then would a ceasefire follow. And here Trump backed down. He agreed with Putin.
Well then, a “peace plan” it was. Shuttle trips began — by people without any official government positions, but close to Trump — to Moscow. Talks with Putin and his inner circle began, along with visits by Dmitriev to the United States. All of this ended with the drafting of a 28-point plan that, in reality, turned out to be a Russian plan, successfully “sold” to Mr. Trump.
Such a plan did not suit Ukraine. Together with Europeans, Ukrainians reworked it into 20 points and coordinated it with the Americans. Last weekend, Trump and Zelensky discussed this plan at Trump’s residence in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, and generally agreed on it. According to Zelensky, the plan is 95% ready.
Trump verbally promised “gold” and “platinum” security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of signing a ceasefire. And what about Russia? Once again, it is dissatisfied. Once again, it is against it. As the saying goes, “Baba Yaga is against it.” It is interesting to see what Trump will come up with now to back down yet again.
But God be with Trump. Over the course of this year, his inclination — almost infatuation — with Putin and his open dislike of Zelensky have become obvious. It is impossible to recall without disgust his meeting with the dictator and war criminal Putin in Alaska: the red carpet, applause, handshakes, pats on the shoulder — and zero results. Zelensky’s first, unwelcoming meeting at the White House evoked the same feeling.
Are Trump’s words worth anything when he now says that he believes Putin, that Putin allegedly wants peace and prosperity for Ukraine, while at the same time wiping Ukrainian cities and villages off the face of the earth? Trump wants economic cooperation with Russia, wants to develop the Arctic. It is a kind of inverted, distorted worldview.
Well then, there is nothing we can do to change this. We have to accept it, behave accordingly, wait it out, and survive. Trump’s policy over this year has become clear to everyone: he has replaced “peace through strength” with “peace through business.”
And as for us — we must do our own work. Beat the Muscovite “by mane and tail” wherever possible: at the front, on his territory, on water and in the air. Strengthen our own defensive and offensive capabilities, build up weapons stockpiles so as not to depend on the whims of donors.
Modern war has become a war of drones—and here Ukraine holds the lead. A few figures. Over the past year, Ukraine increased production of long-range drones fivefold—from 6,000 in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025. Production of FPV drones doubled—to 6 million. Interceptor drones are being produced at a rate of up to 950 per day.
Last year, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received 3 million artillery shells, of which 1.2 million were produced in Ukraine — and these volumes continue to grow. At the beginning of the war, Ukraine had only one “Bohdana” self-propelled artillery system, whose fire helped drive the occupiers off Snake Island. Today, Ukraine already has around 350 such systems.
Work is underway to expand missile capabilities: the production and use of “Flamingo” missiles, the “Sapsan” system, whose missiles can carry up to 500 kilograms of explosives. Production of surface and underwater drones is being improved and expanded — drones that have become a true nightmare for Russia’s navy.
Much has been done — but much more still needs to be done. And that requires significant funds. Europe has provided them to Ukraine. This year has definitively shown that the United States and its president have refused to be financial sponsors of Ukraine in its struggle for independence and sovereignty. But we have others — moral and sincere allies. And it is with them that we will withstand this fierce struggle.
Author: Myroslav Grekh
