It took 116 years, actually, with a bit of conflictus interruptus for a minor inconvenience known as the Black Death*; but the French ultimately defeated British King Edward III’s attempt to usurp the French throne . . . though he obviously didn’t live to see the finish of what he had started.

* The Black Death, or bubonic plague pandemic, took some 50 million lives in Europe between 1346 and 1353.

That seemingly endless conflict, involving four successive generations of combatants, was finally resolved nearly 600 years ago. There have, of course, been many — far too many — wars, both large and small, since then. The longest one in recent memory was World War II, which lasted six years.

And now we have the one in Ukraine, rapidly heading toward its fifth year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin showing every sign of aiming for a new record. He vacillates between hinting at a willingness to seriously negotiate a peace settlement, and blasting the hell out of Ukraine’s innocent civilians yet again.

Case in point: On November 12th, following an announcement by Russia’s Defense Ministry of further advances toward the capture of the strategic city of Pokrovsk, Kremlin spokesman and all-around sweetheart Dmitry Peskov commented on an alleged attempt by the UK to resume a back-channel dialogue:

“There were indeed contacts, . . . [but the talks collapsed because] there was a lack of any intention or desire to listen to our position. Given the impossibility of exchanging views, the mutual dialogue has not developed.” [RFE/RL, November 12, 2025.]

Earlier on the same day, Russian state news agency TASS had cited a Foreign Ministry official as saying that Russia was ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. [Id.]

Seriously . . . don’t these people talk to each other? The Foreign Ministry says they’re ready to meet, but the Kremlin then insists that it will only be on their terms. Or did something happen in the interim between the TASS report and Peskov’s statement to change their minds?

But at least there was talk of holding talks . . . perhaps a dim light at the end of a long tunnel, but a light nevertheless.

*. *. *

Until, less than 48 hours later, Ukraine was hit with massive Russian barrages of 430 drones and 18 missiles in several locations, killing no fewer than six people and injuring more than 35 others, including children and a pregnant woman. Targets included the capital city of Kyiv, which saw its strongest assault in several months, as well as Sumy, Odesa and Kharkiv.

In Kyiv, about 30 apartment buildings were damaged, in addition to medical facilities, public transportation, offices, shops and vehicles. Also hit by an Iskander missile fragment was the Azerbaijani Embassy, which sustained damage to its compound and perimeter wall. [Id.]

In a post on X, President Volodymyr Zelensky said:

“Once again, Russia has launched a heinous attack against Ukraine, our people, and ordinary residential buildings.” [Id.]

Yet Moscow continues to deny that it targets civilians or non-military infrastructure. And increasingly punishing tariffs haven’t worked, nor has Russia’s isolation from a large part of the rest of the world. Donald Trump thought this war would be an easy one for him to end; but Vladimir Putin’s intransigence has proved greater than that of all the Middle Eastern potentates combined.

Maybe he just hopes to wear us all down. If that is indeed his strategy, he already has a good start.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
11/14/25