In this essay for TIME, Elliot Ackerman argues that Ukraine’s winter offensive could determine the course of the war with Russia.
Drawing on his military experience, Ackerman frames time as a decisive battlefield dimension and warns that Ukraine must seize initiative before a prolonged war begins to favor Russia.
Ukraine, Russia, and Battlefield Time
The essay examines why operational momentum matters, arguing that Ukraine and its allies must use winter to set conditions for future offensives.
Military Aid and Maximum Pressure
Ackerman analyzes NATO support, U.S. military aid, Patriot missiles, HIMARS, Javelins, Switchblade drones, and the risks of escalation as Ukraine seeks victory.
Lessons from the Winter War
At its center, the piece compares Ukraine’s situation to Finland’s Winter War against the Soviet Union, emphasizing the importance of speed, pressure, and strategic timing.