War in Ukraine
The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

‘No off-ramps’: U.S. and European officials don’t see a clear endgame in Ukraine

The situation seems destined to result in an even deadlier and more protracted slog, wreaking devastation in Ukraine and causing a massive humanitarian crisis

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Updated March 10, 2022 at 7:42 a.m. EST|Published March 10, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EST
Ukrainians on a damaged bridge flee the Irpin area, on the outskirts of Kyiv, on March 8. (Heidi Levine for The Washington Post)
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When Russia first invaded Ukraine two weeks ago, the near-unanimous global assumption was that it would score a quick and easy military victory over its neighbor to the west.

But now — with the Ukrainians waging a fierce resistance and Russian forces bogged down outside nearly every major city — the Biden administration and its allies say they see no clear end to the military phase of this conflict, according to interviews with 17 administration officials, diplomats, policymakers and experts. The situation seems destined to result in an even deadlier and more protracted slog, wreaking devastation in Ukraine and causing a massive humanitarian crisis.