A devil’s bargain with Putin will only bring another war: Ukraine must make him pay

A devil’s bargain with Putin will only bring another war: Ukraine must make him pay



Posted by theipaper

4 comments

  1. A reported Russian proposal for swapping territory as a means of ending the [war in Ukraine](https://inews.co.uk/topic/russia-ukraine-war?srsltid=AfmBOoq1Q3OtMmiLpo_k3x7hJziObEvvRQZGmykrdQl9I9plJCOc6Mp7&ico=in-line_link) gained world attention on the eve of the [Trump-Putin summit](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/how-force-putin-actually-negotiate-ukraine-3857080?ico=in-line_link). But Moscow later clarified that it wants Kyiv to unilaterally withdraw from the 30 per cent of the Donetsk region that it still controls without any major land exchange.

    What we are seeing is a classic Russian tactic of issuing a vague statement that casts itself as ready for compromise, setting the stage for a blame game against Ukraine, while demanding unreciprocated concessions.

    No one should be fooled. There is a lot of dust to be cleared off this devil’s bargain.

    No Ukrainian authority is empowered – no matter the president – to trade Ukrainian territories during negotiations. Under the constitution, only a referendum can settle a question of the country’s borders. In this case, the Russians have created a dilemma for [Volodymyr Zelensky](https://www.google.com/search?q=inews+zelensky&rlz=1C1GCEA_en&oq=inews+zelensky&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7MgYIARBFGEAyCggCEAAYChgWGB4yCggDEAAYChgWGB4yDQgEEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgFEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRg80gEIMTgyM2owajmoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) – either accept Moscow’s terms and lose legitimacy in Ukraine, or face another blast from [Donald Trump](https://inews.co.uk/topic/donald-trump?srsltid=AfmBOor8TpZcsb5DgY6Rnq59H7bKFHiNAmyYOuSpJuZdGzmR-TDJf7Bc&ico=in-line_link) for disrupting his peace process.

    Russian strategic culture is all about making such dilemmas for opponents. Ukrainian society is ready for compromise but not for the surrender of territory, sovereignty, and security.

    Ukraine has has also learned bitter lessons that territory-for-ceasefire deals don’t work with its neighbour. The [Minsk agreements of 2014-15 ](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-are-minsk-agreements-ukraine-conflict-2022-02-21/)were premised on the hopes of Ukraine, Europe, and the US, that the Kremlin could limit its aggression to eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Those hopes were in vain.

    Ukraine is now being sold the same failed formula – to buy itself and partners a sense of normalcy at the expense of its people and territories with no working mechanism that would prevent the next round of Russian aggression. Unilateral concessions would make the next cycle of violence more likely. Meaningful security commitments and a deterrence package from the US and Europe could stop it.

  3. Unfortunately the peace will arrive long after the youth of Ukraine have been killed or have fled the country.

    Tbh I don’t understand the logic. Let’s continue the war so the Ukrainian population is even more reduced and traumatized ? Ukraine can’t get back what Russia invaded, USA and EU don’t have military industry to support Ukraine, Ukrainian army is worn out. It may be time to do a reality check and realize there is nothing positive to be expected in Ukraine if the war goes on.

  4. Ukraine is doing all that can be expected and more. Without the support promised by its allies, the fight is hopeless.

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