The Inertia of Russia’s War
The article discusses the complexities surrounding the continuation of Russia's war in Ukraine, emphasizing that the conflict has deeply integrated into the country's economy and society. It argues that while many Russians desire peace, the structural changes brought about by the war create significant obstacles for President Putin to end the conflict. The authors highlight that the war has produced a self-sustaining system that makes any transition away from conflict challenging and potentially destabilizing.
- ▪The war has become the central organizing principle of Russian social and economic life.
- ▪Ending the conflict would likely lead to economic dislocation and social upheaval in Russia.
- ▪Most Russians would welcome peace, but the regime is not prepared for the political reckoning that would follow.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Inertia of Russia’s WarWhy Putin Can’t End the Conflict Seva Gunitsky and Jeremy Morris June 3, 2026 Conscripts in Bataysk, Russia, April 2026 Sergey Pivovarov / Reuters SEVA GUNITSKY is George Ignatieff Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Toronto.JEREMY MORRIS is Professor of Russian and Global Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark. More by Seva Gunitsky More by Jeremy Morris Share & Download Print Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in. Save Sign in and save to read later Close Share The Inertia of Russia’s War Why Putin Can’t End the Conflict Seva Gunitsky and Jeremy Morris Share in email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Copy Link Copied Article link:…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Foreign Affairs.