These realities underscore the key problem with a ceasefire. Any territory still occupied by Russia condemns Ukrainians living in this territory.
For any hope of a lasting negotiated settlement, Russia must prove itself willing and capable of accepting justice for its actions and honouring its agreements. The Russian track record under President Vladimir Putin here does not bode well.
RUSSIA WON’T BACK DOWN; UKRAINE CAN’T
This issue is connected to a second, more serious obstacle: Russia maintains its extreme aims.
Russia has consistently noted it will only accept a negotiated settlement that acknowledges Russian control of the territories of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk that it claims to have annexed, even after Ukraine took back control in some regions.
Russia has not wavered from this position.
Ukraine has maintained its own aims – to liberate territory, including Crimea, from Russian occupation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently offered a 10-point plan for peace, which includes demands for Russian troops to leave Ukraine and for war crimes tribunals. Russia rejected Zelenskyy’s plan.
A ceasefire, or lasting peace, is incredibly difficult without one side moving from its position.
Currently, the military reality on the ground, despite Russia’s initial aims being thwarted and Ukrainian successes in defending its territory, does not seem to be leading Russia to reconsider its efforts. Neither has the situation warranted a need for Ukraine to do the same.
Some Westerners have started to suggest liberating Crimea may be one aim Ukraine may need to reconsider.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
