Ukraine Is Preparing to Fight for Another One to Two Years—This Is What European Leaders Recently Asked of Zelensky

According to several members of parliament, hostilities could continue for another one—two years, RBC-Ukraine reports.

In these conditions, lawmakers believe the parliament will have to continue operating in its current format for an extended period. “If a few months ago there was still an expectation in political circles of a ceasefire, a possible peace agreement, a referendum on it, and subsequent elections—even if not in spring or summer, then at least in the autumn—now, after negotiations have reached a dead end and against the backdrop of the war in Iran, more and more sources agree that the country will have to remain in its current wartime mode for another one—two years. At the same time, Ukraine has no other members of parliament for this period, nor will it,” the publication states.

Earlier, sources in other media outlets pointed to similar timelines, noting that, according to their information, European partners had urged Volodymyr Zelensky to proceed on the assumption that the war could continue for roughly another two years.

Economists also see signs in the government’s actions that preparations are being made for such a scenario.

Economist Daniil Monin, having analyzed the parameters of Ukraine’s budget and its agreements with the IMF, points to the assumptions embedded in them.

“The IMF, in its previous review in June 2025, assumed that spending would need to be reduced immediately after the war ends. This is logical—when debt exceeds 100% of GDP, the state must cut the deficit and stabilize the budget. However, the new program for 2027 projects a deficit of more than 17% of GDP—effectively at wartime levels. I therefore conclude that, in their calculations, the war is already planned to continue at least through 2026—2027,” Monin notes.

At the same time, he notes that the IMF’s baseline scenario assumes that hostilities should end by 2027, yet the Ukrainian authorities are not planning to reduce spending during that period.

“Excuse me, but if just six months ago the Ukrainian government agreed to a deficit of 9.8%, and now is ready to increase it by nearly 8% of GDP, I see two possible explanations: either they have already concluded that the war will last another two years and this is a kind of reserve for 2027, or the logic is that if financing is available, it should be used to the maximum,” he said.