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Putin’s War in Ukraine at a Standstill, Western Officials Say

  • Russia and Ukraine currently incapable of decisive impact
  • Western officials speaking on condition of anonymity
A soldier stands in trenches on the Kherson frontline in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, Aug. 8. 

A soldier stands in trenches on the Kherson frontline in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, Aug. 8. 

Photographer: Wojciech Grzedzinski /The Washington Post/Getty Images

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is at a near-operational standstill, with neither side currently able to launch an offensive that would materially affect the course of the conflict, according to an assessment from Western officials.

With both sides more conscious that they face a marathon rather than a sprint in a war already close to six months old, the tempo of the conflict has slowed, the officials said on condition of anonymity. They said the question now is whether Ukraine can generate a credible counterattack in the fall.