Why prolonging conflict benefits Putin, Zelenskyy, Netanyahu, Hamas & Trump

In the labyrinth of modern geopolitics, wars often endure not merely because of entrenched hatred but because their prolongation serves the strategic, political, and personal interests of the key players involved.

- SHAHID KABBAS

In the labyrinth of modern geopolitics, wars often endure not merely because of entrenched hatred but because their prolongation serves the strategic, political, and personal interests of the key players involved. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the more recent Israel-Hamas war illustrate how leaders like Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Hamas ~ along with leadership influential external actors such as former US President Donald Trump find reasons to keep ~ the fires of conflict burning despite the devastating human toll.

For Vladimir Putin, the war in Ukraine is not just a military campaign it's a cornerstone of his vision to restore Russia's great-power status and deter Western influence. Prolonging the conflict allows Moscow to maintain pressure, negotiate from a position of strength, and sustain domestic narratives of external threat and national pride. The war consolidates Putin's grip on power by rallying nationalist sentiment and distracting from internal economic and political woes.