In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman writes from Kyiv during the Yalta European Strategy conference as Ukrainian forces regain territory and optimism about victory grows.
Ackerman argues that battlefield success brings its own dangers, especially when political leaders, allies, and citizens have not reached consensus on what victory should mean.
Ukraine, Victory, and War Aims
The essay examines competing definitions of Ukrainian victory, from restoring pre-invasion borders to reclaiming Crimea, securing NATO guarantees, and forcing Russian reparations.
Military Success and Strategic Risk
Ackerman compares Ukraine’s moment to earlier wars in Korea and the Gulf, showing how success can tempt leaders to expand objectives beyond what the battlefield or politics can sustain.
The Perils of Escalation
At its center, the piece warns that Volodymyr Zelensky must define victory in a way that is achievable, politically durable, and not so punitive that Vladimir Putin can exploit it to escalate the war.