Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from 12 May with the backing of US president Donald Trump, threatening president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply.
The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, during which they held a phone call with Trump.
Simply not reality focused. Hatred of Russia programmed higher than European security concerns that could be addressed if “root causes of conflict” (US puppeted provocation of war by Ukraine and supporters) are a basis for peace instead of treating ceasefire as opportunity to rearm and train the newly conscripted.
Just as Russia demands demilitarization of Ukraine, Europe needs to demand demilitarization of Russia to avoid their own military buildup at cost of social programs. Europe continuing to demonize Russia, including blaming ceasefire breakdowns as one sided, is not going to get them treated as human. Not that anyone cares, but prolonging the war is more destruction of Ukraine and less favourable peace.
Even if destabilizing Russia is a unanimous/axiomatic goal, there is greater opportunity through giving it peace, and forcing it to transition to a peacetime economy, instead of the massive success/growth it has generated, including exceptional wage growth, during the war.