The perils of peacemongering

Premature peace deals are the result of military weakness or lack of political will. Ukraine shouldn't be cornered into being the next one.

A Ukrainian residential block after being attacked by Russian forces.

Courtesy: Ukrainian Armed Forces

Powerful NATO members have in recent weeks been saying that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine can happen whenever Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wants them to. The United States, France and indirectly Turkey, the alliance’s three most powerful militaries, have all taken this position.

The initiative would be entirely up to Ukraine, in theory; but of course publicly saying that the ball is in Zelenskyy’s court puts pressure on Zelenskyy to start talking. If Russia, the aggressor, is ready to talk, and it cunningly advertises that it is, why should Ukraine insist on war?