Ukraine's ongoing conflict: current status and the debate on peace
Dr Anna Colin Lebedev, an expert on the war in Ukraine and a faculty member at PSIA, recently held an insightful conversation with students about the current status of the war and its impact on global affairs.
Dr Lebedev, an assistant professor in political science at the University of Paris Nanterre, completed her PhD at Sciences Po in 2009. Her academic background is in political science, and her research focuses on various aspects of conflicts and civilians' roles in them.
The war in Ukraine remains intense and ongoing as of late August 2025, with active combat operations primarily around Ukraine's northern borders, including Sumy and Kursk oblasts, and ongoing Russian offensives that have resulted in territorial changes and significant infrastructure damage. Ukrainian forces have also struck Russian energy infrastructure in regions such as Leningrad and Samara oblasts, demonstrating offensive capabilities inside Russian territory.
In particular, fighting continues near the international border regions, notably in northern Sumy Oblast, where Russian forces aim to create defensible buffer zones along the border but have faced resistance and limited advances. Russian military efforts, including large-scale assaults by airborne and naval infantry units, have suffered heavy losses and operational challenges.
Ukrainian infrastructure, especially its power grid, has been heavily impacted by Russian attacks, leading to nearly half (48%) of Ukraine’s pre-war power capacity being lost due to occupation, destruction, or damage. At the diplomatic level, prospects for peace talks appear dim, with Russia backing away from negotiations and escalating attacks, while the West continues to apply sanctions and provide support to Ukraine.
During the conversation, Dr Lebedev likely emphasised the resilience and strategic challenges faced by Ukraine amid ongoing territorial defense and counteroffensive operations. She may have discussed the critical role of Western military and economic assistance to Ukraine, as well as the broader global impact of the war, including heightened geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West, disruptions in energy and food supply chains, and a shifting security landscape in Europe and beyond.
Dr Lebedev's discussion may have also highlighted the difficulties in achieving a diplomatic resolution given Russia’s hardening stance against Western involvement and peace initiatives.
Lisa Yasko, a Ukrainian MP from the Servant of the People party, also participated in the conversation. She is a graduate of the Oxford MPP program and a political scientist who has worked in Ukraine's government and the UK's DCMS. She is the founder of Yellow Blue Strategy NGO, which promotes cultural diplomacy and creative initiatives, and advocates for Ukraine's territorial integrity, European integration, and human rights.
References:
[1] Ukrainian War Update: August 2025 (The Atlantic Council) [2] War in Ukraine: Latest developments (BBC News) [3] Russia-Ukraine War: Latest News and Analysis (The Washington Post) [4] Ukraine's War: A Timeline (The New York Times) [5] Ukraine Power Grid Damage (Ukrainian Power Ministry)
Dr. Lebedev, given her expertise and academic background in political science and conflicts, may delve into the consequences of the ongoing war in Ukraine on global politics and general news during her discussion with students. As the war continues into late August 2025, with intensified conflicts along Ukraine's northern borders and extensive damages to infrastructure, the geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West are escalating, disrupting energy and food supply chains, and shaping a new security landscape in Europe and beyond.
