Ukraine's Second Front: Civilian Reluctance to Leave Amid Russian Advance

• Ukraine battles a "second front" of civilian reluctance to evacuate eastern towns as Russian forces advance and danger intensifies.
• Evacuation teams struggle to persuade residents, often elderly or sick, to leave areas like Dobropillia, which are under direct artillery and drone threats.
• This civilian resistance complicates Ukraine's diplomatic efforts, as President Zelenskyy prepares peace proposals amid declining international military aid.
• Foreign military support for Ukraine has fallen to €32.5 billion this year, down from annual averages exceeding €41 billion earlier in the war.
• US pressure for an expedited settlement and elections, influenced by Donald Trump, further constricts Kyiv's negotiating space alongside Russian demands.

Why It Matters: Civilian refusal to evacuate complicates Ukraine's war effort and diplomatic challenges.