The Times: Ukraine war could be over by Christmas

The success of Ukrainian troops in puncturing Russian front lines has raised hopes among western governments and military experts that the war could be over as early as Christmas, Report informs, quoting from The Times.

If Kyiv’s progress persists, President Putin’s forces will be pushed out of the Donbas and back to Russia by the end of the year, a senior British government source told The Times.

Taking back Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, would be harder. The Ukrainian loss of life would probably be huge, and some military figures in the country prefer a slower, more tactical approach. Either way, there is no sign of a winter pause in the fighting.

Optimism among British politicians is because of Ukraine’s successes rather than specific intelligence.