Fact check: Putin won the war in ukraine in 2024

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The claim that "Putin won the war in Ukraine in 2024" is not accurate as of December 2024. While Russia has made significant territorial gains and Ukraine faces serious challenges, the conflict remains active with no formal resolution or decisive victory for either side.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• Russia has achieved military advantages, including capturing strategic positions and maintaining a 5-to-1 advantage in artillery/ammunition
• Ukraine faces critical shortages in ammunition, troops, and air defenses, but continues to resist and conduct counteroffensive operations
• Multiple potential outcomes remain possible, including partial peace agreements, unstable ceasefires, or continued conflict
• The involvement of North Korean troops on Russia's side has changed the military dynamics
• Western support levels, particularly from the US, remain a crucial variable
• The upcoming US presidential election could significantly impact the conflict's trajectory, with potential acceleration of peace talks if Donald Trump wins

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

The statement presents a binary "win/lose" scenario in what is actually a complex, ongoing conflict. This oversimplification benefits:

• Russian propaganda efforts, which seek to project strength and inevitable victory
• Anti-Western narratives suggesting futility in supporting Ukraine
• Those opposing continued military aid to Ukraine, including certain political figures in Western countries who can argue the conflict is already decided

The reality is more nuanced, with multiple stakeholders and possible outcomes still in play as of December 2024.