The Geopolitical Trap: War in Ukraine and Strategic Takeaways

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and the Ukraine–Russia War began in Europe.Footnote1 The War has lasted for more than three years, resulting in around 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed, 370,000 injured (as of December 2024), and 6.8 million Ukrainians displaced across Europe (as of January 2025), including women, children, and the elderly (Binley and Beale Citation2024; Statista Citation2025). Russia has also suffered significant deaths and casualties in the War, as well as faced economic sanctions from Western powers.