Editor's Note: This assessment is the first of a two-part series that explores whether Ukraine or Russia is more capable of emerging victorious from a protracted war. The second part of this series can be found here . Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and particularly in the last several weeks, competing narratives have emerged regarding the future trajectory of the war. These debates are often framed as a question regarding time — namely, on whose side is time in the war? The Prospect of a Protracted War This question came to the fore in May as it became clear that the peace talks that began shortly after Russia launched its invasion in February had, unsurprisingly, ground to a halt. Today, a peace deal remains distant due to Russia's insistence that it maintains control over — and likely eventually annexes — the land corridor to Crimea.