Kyiv, 21 May 2025 – Russia’s war against Ukraine, which French expert Nicolas Tenzer calls a war of destruction, continues, leaving untold trauma while demonstrating the indomitable will of Ukrainians to win. In his new article for Tenzer Strategies, Tenzer, who recently returned from his sixth trip to Ukraine, shares his insights on the realities of the war, the courage of Ukrainians, and the contradictory position of the West.
The horrors of war and the resilience of Ukraine
According to Tenzer, the situation in Ukraine is deteriorating: thousands of new casualties, incredible brutality by Russian forces, who have resorted to torture, rape, execution and abduction of children, and conditions on the frontline that surpass the brutality of most known wars. “Russian warfare is a constant of death that strikes indiscriminately,” he writes, highlighting the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, markets and homes.
Despite this, Ukraine is resisting. Tenzer notes that the Ukrainian armed forces are not only holding back the enemy’s advance, but are also inflicting significant strikes on Russian weapons, ammunition and oil infrastructure in Russia. “This resistance is not desperate,” he emphasises, “It is bearing fruit, albeit slowly, due to the indecision of the West, which still does not provide Kyiv with all the necessary weapons.
Fake diplomacy and pressure on Ukraine
Tenzer sharply criticises so-called “diplomacy”, which he sees as more theatre than real efforts for peace. He recalls the recent events in Istanbul, where President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was forced by pressure from Western allies, including the Donald Trump administration, to agree to a “game” of negotiations that have no chance of success. “Zelenskyy knows that negotiations with Moscow are impossible, but he has to pretend that they are for the sake of his people’s interests,” Tenzer writes, calling it humiliating for Ukraine.
He also draws attention to the hypocrisy of Western leaders who, on the one hand, acknowledge Russia’s crimes, but on the other hand, continue to talk about the possibility of a peace agreement that would effectively mean amnesty for the criminals. “How can you acknowledge the existence of Russia’s unforgivable crimes and at the same time imagine a peace agreement that would justify them?” asks Tenzer.
Injuries that will remain forever
Tenzer reflects on the extent of the trauma suffered by the Ukrainian people. It is not only physical losses – tens of thousands of civilians killed, including children – but also psychological wounds: the loss of loved ones, daily fear, and childhood trauma caused by the war. “These traumas are kept silent because people have to survive, fight, and hold on,” he said. However, according to him, they will return and remain in the souls of Ukrainians for decades if Russian crimes are not punished and the threat from Russia does not disappear.
He emphasises that Ukraine’s victory is necessary not only to restore justice, but also to ensure that the victims are named and buried. “Without Ukraine’s victory, we will never know the exact number of victims,” Tenzer writes.
Europe: progress or indecision?
Tenzer acknowledges some progress in the position of European allies: the Russian threat is finally being taken seriously, and support for Ukraine in the form of weapons and funding is growing. However, this is not enough. He criticises the slowness of the “coalition of the willing” and the lack of decisive steps that could change the course of the war.
European leaders, according to Tenzer, are still under the illusion that a peace deal with Russia is possible, which he claims has no intention of stopping. Such an agreement, he says, would not only legitimise the Kremlin’s crimes, but would also weaken the credibility of democracies, undermine their ability to deter and open the door to new Russian aggressions.
A radical response to a radical evil
Tenzer calls for radical action in response to “radical evil” Russia’s “radical evil”. He believes that sanctions and arms supplies remain limited compared to the scale of the crimes. The expert also advocates for the confiscation of frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank for transfer to Ukraine, dismissing legal and financial counterarguments as inappropriate to the situation.
“A radical crime requires a radical response,” he writes, “Western leaders have not yet realised the scale of Russia’s actions and are unable to formulate an adequate response. Tenzer is convinced that the only way to peace is Russia’s military defeat, as any “peace deal” will only be a preparation for a new war.
Ukraine’s victory is a matter for Ukrainians
In conclusion, Tenzer emphasises that Ukraine’s victory depends first and foremost on the Ukrainians themselves, who have demonstrated incredible fortitude. “Ukraine will not surrender,” he writes, “and this victory will be the achievement of the Ukrainian people. At the same time, he calls on Europe and the West not to stand by but to act decisively to stop the empire of death that is modern Russia.
Source: Tenzer Strategies
