WASHINGTON , April 15 -- The Russia Ukraine war is entering a decisive phase marked not only by shifting battle lines but by a deepening financial and military entrenchment of Western powers, raising fresh questions about whether the conflict is being sustained rather than resolved.

In Washington, the absence of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from yet another Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting has underscored a broader recalibration in American policy. Instead of direct leadership, the United States is increasingly delegating responsibility to European allies, even while continuing to underpin the war effort through arms frameworks and strategic influence.

The shift comes amid growing indications that Washington's commitment ...