By Scott Ritter
Real Scott Ritter
July 1, 2026
As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine enters its fifth year, it is high time that the nations that comprise the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) take stock of the situation and what it means for the future of a trans-Atlantic alliance that has been in place for some eight decades. Western mainstream media and its social media echo chambers promote a narrative centered around the notion of Russian fatigue, Ukrainian resilience, and western resolve, and take delight in highlighting talking points premised on a Russian-generated quagmire that has dragged on longer than the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45.