HOW THE PEOPLE WILL END THIS WAR

4 June 2025

1. The Approaching Tipping Point in the Ukraine War

A long war eventually burns out its own logic. Whether it's donors withholding funds, voters swinging toward peace candidates, a final catastrophic defeat on the battlefield, or a bankrupt Treasury unable to finance further arms production - there are many pathways that could lead this war to a conclusion.

But how will we know when the tipping point has truly been reached?

2. Signs of the Dialectic Shifting

First, cracks will begin to appear in the mainstream media narrative. Once loyal stenographers to the official war line, journalists will start revealing the bleak reality of the front lines. Articles will mention stalled offensives, morale problems, or whispers of fatigue.

Next, a few brave public figures - politicians, cultural icons, perhaps a military voice - will speak out. Not in favour of defeat, but in defence of truth, morality, and common sense.

The language will subtly change. No longer just “Russian aggression,” but phrases like “security concerns,” “strategic balance,” or even “pathways to dialogue” will enter the mainstream.

Then will come the economic reckoning. Editorials will question the ballooning cost of war - paid by taxpayers enduring service cuts at home. What started as noble resistance may begin to look like unsustainable waste.

Public mood will shift. Social media will amplify the outrage. Protesters will reappear - on high streets, on university campuses, on the steps of parliament.

3. Sensible Adjustments, Not Apologies

When this happens, there will be no formal apology. Instead, we’ll hear of “sensible adjustments to policy,” “reassessments,” or “fresh thinking on strategic objectives.” The dialectic - thesis, antithesis, synthesis - will do its quiet work. What was unthinkable will become inevitable.

And what then of those who staked so much on pride, certainty, and a single narrative? How will they cope when history begins to speak in a different voice?