The Imperial Trap: Russia’s War in Ukraine and the Lessons of Failed Conquests
Abstract
Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff, in the INSS Center for Strategy and Military Power, authors this War on the Rocks article that analyzes the Russia–Ukraine war as a protracted conflict of attrition. It examines Russia’s structural political and economic limitations, Ukraine’s strategy of strategic neutralization, and the decisive role of sustained Western support in shaping long-term outcomes. Drawing on historical precedents of Russian imperial overreach, the article challenges Moscow’s assumption that time inherently favors Russia and assesses the war’s implications for political cohesion, economic resilience, and military reconstitution.
Document Type
Article
Topic(s)
Defense Policy, Great Power Competition, Military Strategy
Region(s)
Eurasia, Russia
Publication Date
12-16-2025
Recommended Citation
Mankoff, Jeffrey, "The Imperial Trap: Russia’s War in Ukraine and the Lessons of Failed Conquests" (2025). Articles & Op-Eds. 22.
https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/csr-articles/22