The Preamble

The Preamble

Something Has Shifted for Ukraine

Time may not be on Russia’s side anymore

Elise Labott's avatar
Elise Labott
Jun 11, 2026
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Since the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the dominant story has been one of slow, grinding inevitability. Russia was bigger, richer in manpower, and willing to absorb casualties at a scale democracies could not sustain politically. Ukraine was brave but outmatched. American support kept Kyiv in the fight, but American patience, as everyone in Washing…

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Elise Labott's avatar
A guest post by
Elise Labott
Global affairs journalist. I write Cosmopolitics on Substack.
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