Morning Note

Volodymyr Zelensky conceded Tuesday that Ukraine does not have “enough forces” to restore sovereignty over Russian-occupied Crimea and “must seek diplomatic means” to end its catastrophic war.

“We do not have enough forces to return Crimea,” the Ukrainian president said in an interview. “Our army does not have enough forces. We must seek diplomatic means, but [this will be possible] only after we know that we are so strong that the Russians will not return with aggression again.”

Zelensky’s sentiment could foreshadow a major policy shift. Until very recently, his government and the Biden administration were in lockstep that forcing Ukraine’s boys to fight to the death was the only acceptable option. That insistence may be loosening now that Donald Trump, whose supporters have long opposed America’s endless funding of Eastern European bloodshed, is returning to the White House.

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