The counteroffensive in 2023 showed us the hard truth: it is that Ukraine currently has no realistic chance to regain the territories occupied by Russia. That is why we need a ceasefire now. We can strengthen our democracy, rebuild our economy, and begin the long process of rebuilding our society from this brutal invasion.
This was written for TIME by Yulia Mendel, a Ukrainian journalist and former press secretary to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky insists that such a deal may be difficult to achieve, emphasizing the importance of a just peace over a quick one. It is hard to argue against justice, of course. But in conversations with my fellow citizens, another sobering truth emerged: this war is completely exhausting us.
While Ukraine insists on the return of its territories and the (ever-more-distant) prospect of NATO membership, it is losing its nation. At least 7.5 million Ukrainians have fled the country because of the war. Russia has turned a third of Ukraine into a living hell. Imagine life where Russian drones hunt people like they are on a safari every day, as they do in my home region of Kherson. While roughly two-thirds of Kherson’s population has fled, many remain – including my parents, who as medical workers refuse to leave their community. This is the harsh reality across much of eastern, southern and northern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces continue their slow, relentless advance in the Donbass.
While we engage in endless debates about justice and whether a quick peace is even possible, the Russians are grabbing more land and taking more lives. The reported death toll of Ukrainian soldiers varies widely, from over 40,000 according to President Zelensky to at least 80,000 according to The Wall Street Journal. In addition to these figures, civilians are dying and suffering every day. Verified UN estimates put the number of civilian deaths at over 12,000 in Ukrainian-controlled territory alone, while the true toll in Russian-occupied regions remains unknown.
As the war drags on, patriotism is beginning to waver for some, replaced by a single desperate desire: survival.
Perhaps an imperfect ceasefire, which may not satisfy all our demands for justice, is a necessary step. It is a call for survival.
Some would call me naive, suggesting that Putin’s army will recover and attack again. But even a temporary truce could allow us to fortify the defenses we failed to build before the invasion. With constant Russian shelling, establishing strong lines is almost impossible. A ceasefire would provide a chance to strengthen our borders, strengthen our forces, and prepare for what might come next. If Russia resumes its aggression, at least we will be standing on solid ground, not crumbling foundations.
We must be pragmatic – for the sake of future generations who will bear the consequences of today’s elections. This is not a call for surrender, but for a strategy that recognizes both our strength and our limitations. Ukraine deserves a future beyond endless war.
I am here to challenge the notion that only continued war will save Ukraine. To confront Russia, we need more than weapons. We need intellectual strength, a sustainable democracy, a stable economy, and the courage to confront our own limitations. The reality is that right now, with Ukraine’s brain drain, rising poverty levels, and eroded democracy, our resilience is fragile.
Every day of (war) attrition weakens Ukraine. Reclaiming our land requires more than brute force.
A ceasefire can allow Ukraine to recalibrate, to heal, to recover. We can strengthen our democracy, rebuild our economy, and begin the long process of rebuilding our society from this brutal invasion. I call on our allies, our leaders, and above all my fellow Ukrainians: consider the value of a ceasefire. Let us embrace this difficult journey not as a capitulation, but as a necessary step toward securing Ukraine’s future. We owe it to our nation, to the fallen, and to those who will inherit the Ukraine we seek to protect.