Kyiv/Moscow – The frontiers of the Ukraine war are expanding dramatically, moving beyond the familiar trenches of the Donbas to the global shipping lanes and the corridors of superpower diplomacy.
On the traditional frontier, Russia claims to be advancing. President Vladimir Putin announced his forces have captured nearly 5,000 square kilometers of land this year, which he says has given Moscow the “complete strategic initiative.”
A new frontier has opened in the world’s oceans. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of using its oil tanker fleet for “reconnaissance and even sabotage activities,” extending the conflict into the maritime domain.
Yet another frontier lies in the tense relationship between Moscow and Washington. Putin has warned that the U.S. supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a major escalation, requiring American military involvement and shattering their diplomatic ties.
As these new frontiers open, the war becomes increasingly complex and dangerous, with a growing risk of miscalculation that could have consequences far beyond the initial conflict zone.