Maksym Chebotarov, Coordinator of the US-Ukraine Partnership Program at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center, provided a comment to Beijing News on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, sharing how the war has reshaped everyday life and personal choices for Ukrainians over the past four years.
Chebotarov recalled returning to Kharkiv shortly before 24 February and sensing the growing tension. He noted that escalation felt expected, and described the kind of practical preparedness many Ukrainians had adopted even before the invasion: a first aid kit, a financial reserve, an evacuation route, and an “emergency set” with documents and essential belongings.
Speaking about the first hours of the full-scale invasion, Chebotarov described watching missiles cross the sky over Kharkiv and the moment when uncertainty became reality, leaving people with the same immediate question: how to keep moving forward, live, and help others. He later evacuated to Dnipro, joined volunteer efforts supporting internally displaced people, and assisted international journalists in coordinating interviews — experiences that, in his words, fully redirected the course of his life.
Chebotarov also commented on how, after four years, war fatigue has become more visible in Ukrainian society. However, he stressed that this should not be interpreted as a collapse of will or readiness to accept capitulation. Instead, he described Ukraine as “a tired, but adaptive society” increasingly focused on the practical question of what kind of peace can prevent the next war — and reluctant to support an agreement that would leave the country structurally vulnerable.
From the perspective of the US-Ukraine-Partnerschaftsprogramm, Chebotarov noted that recent negotiations have opened useful channels and surfaced complex practical issues, including ceasefire mechanisms, monitoring and verification, withdrawal details, and the status of occupied territories. However, he stressed that “the core political differences remain substantial,” meaning progress has been limited and a near-term breakthrough is unlikely, particularly on the territorial track and the future of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. He added that ending the war will require stronger U.S. and European leverage to avoid a settlement that leaves Ukraine structurally vulnerable.
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