Forcing Ukraine to trade its independent and undisputed territory for a peace settlement would set a terrible precedent in post-1945 international relations.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds into its second year, with signs Ukraine will soon mount a major counter-offensive, some world leaders are calling for peace talks rather than helping arm Ukraine.
President Xi Jinping tried to burnish China’s credentials as a mediator during his recent visit to Moscow. France’s President Macron is reportedly keen to work with China to forge a negotiating framework. President Lula of Brazil has also entered the fray, arguing neutral countries should come together to push for peace. However, these calls raise big questions about what kind of peace is possible.
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Jon Richardson is a visiting fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies, and is a former Australian diplomat who covered Eastern Europe from Moscow (both in the Soviet Union and Russian Federation), Belgrade, London and Canberra.
