Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg suggested that Ukraine may be forced into temporary territorial concessions in exchange for safety guarantees, which sparked mixed reactions internationally. Is specified a proposal a step toward peace, or is it a concession to an aggressor?
Stoltenberg: Temporary territorial concessions and security
Stoltenberg, in a magazine interview Der Spiegel, stated that a fast end to the war in Ukraine without certain territorial concessions is unlikely. He explained that Ukraine could consider giving control over certain occupied territories, but only temporarily:
"If the ceasefire line means that Russia inactive controls all occupied territories, this does not mean that Ukraine must surrender the territory forever" stressed the erstwhile NATO chief.
In return, Ukraine would receive safety guarantees. They could include NATO membership or another initiatives that would importantly strengthen its defence capacity.
The imagination of Zelenski versus the reality of war
Stoltenberg pointed out that he supported the position of the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski, who has powerfully opposed any territorial concessions since the beginning of the war. However, the erstwhile NATO Secretary-General noted that the current military situation on the front makes it improbable that all occupied areas will be recovered in the short term.
War in Ukraine: historical context and current situation
The war in Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022, is the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of planet War II. Russia, identifying the invasion as a "special military operation", is presently occupying about 20% of Ukrainian territory. The conflict was initiated by Russian support for the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk and the demands for “deilitarisation and denazification” of Ukraine.
Russian president Vladimir Putin argued in a tv speech before the invasion that the aim of the action was to defend the Russian-speaking population allegedly persecuted by the government in Kiev. Critics, however, point out that this is an effort to justify the aggression and realise the imperialist ambitions of Moscow.
What does territorial concessions mean for Ukraine and Europe?
The territorial concessions proposed by Stoltenberg are controversial. On the 1 hand, they can open the way to ending the war and reducing the suffering of civilians. On the another hand, opponents of this approach inform that concessions to Russia can be perceived as a sign of Western weakness and encourage the Kremlin to further escalate conflicts in the region.
International reactions
Stoltenberg's proposal sparked mixed reactions among analysts and politicians. Supporters emphasise pragmatism in the context of long-term conflict, while critics remind of the rule of inviolability of global borders and inform against the hazard of legitimizing territorial aggression.
Is temporary concessions the way to peace?
The question of whether Ukraine should consider temporary territorial concessions in exchange for safety guarantees remains open. On the 1 hand, Stoltenberg emphasises that this is simply a possible way to end the conflict. On the another hand, president Zelenski and many Ukrainian politicians consider this solution to be contrary to national interests and a threat to sovereignty.
Faced with the ongoing war and its global consequences, the global community faces a hard challenge: to find a balance between support for Ukraine and pragmatic search for peace in the region.
Read more:
Stoltenberg called on Ukraine to quit Russia's land for peace
