Why Kiev’s Deal-Making Skills Are Being Tested
Ukraine Conflict:
The Failing Peace Talks in Ukraine: A Recipe for Endless War
The current peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul have once again failed to bring the war any closer to a ceasefire. The limited agreement on prisoner exchanges is a stark reminder of the troubled truth: the negotiation framework is not working. As the military escalation on both sides shows no signs of slowing, diplomacy becomes increasingly difficult. Can we truly say that a ceasefire feels out of reach?
The comparison with the Korean Peninsula’s frozen armistice is becoming more relevant by the day. A scenario where division and resentment are entrenched, and key territorial issues remain unresolved – it’s a daunting prospect. Why must we continue down this path? The answer lies in the way these talks are structured and led.
A Framework Focused on Justice, Not Concessions
The current approach to negotiations is often characterized as technical, where foreign ministers view the conflict as a problem to be solved through arithmetic calculations. Each side calculates whether the outcome adds up in their favor, without considering the human cost of war. This approach cannot work in a conflict defined by trauma, identity, loss, and justice.
We need a new kind of diplomacy – one that accounts for the deep trauma of this war. The mood in Ukraine is heavy, haunted by daily reminders of loss: shattered homes, sirens, and soldier’s coffins quietly passing by on ordinary streets. Peace must begin with recognition – not only of legal borders and security guarantees but also of pain.
A Conversation About Justice, Accountability, and Healing
There can be no sustainable
Too much blood has been shed to exclude these dimensions from the peace process. A negotiation cannot succeed if one side is focused on saving face at the expense of the truth. Facts must be acknowledged: aggression, occupation, and suffering of millions.
A New Kind of Diplomacy
What is required
The United States is uniquely positioned to lead this effort, perhaps more effectively than a divided European Union. But recent statements from the Trump camp have only inflamed tensions, doing more harm than good. What is needed now is serious, strategic engagement – led by the US, in concert with the EU and UN – that meets this moment with the gravity it demands.
A Matter of Justice, Healing, and Human Survival
Is it possible to create space for diplomacy when the situation seems hopeless? Can we find a way out of the endless cycle of war and violence? The answer lies in our ability to confront the harsh realities of this conflict head-on. It is time we approached the peace talks with the gravity they demand.
As we move forward, we must ask ourselves: what will be the cost of inaction? Will we continue down the path of division and resentment, or can we find a way towards healing and reconciliation? The fate of Ukraine hangs in the balance – and so does our collective humanity.