Like any armchair critic, I have my own plan for a peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
First, let’s examine a possible peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine from the perspective of all its direct and indirect participants—Russia, Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. We’ll recall the goals each of them set for themselves in this conflict and consider what sacrifices and concessions they might be willing to make to bring it to an end.
Interests of Ukraine
Under a peace treaty, Ukraine must secure the territorial integrity and independence of its state. This would require Russia to return all occupied territories to Ukraine, including the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, as well as the entire Crimean Peninsula.
As a concession, Ukraine could agree to allow Russia to maintain its naval base in Sevastopol.
Additionally, in accordance with international law, Ukraine should receive reparations under the peace treaty—compensation for the economic damage inflicted by Russia during the war. This would require Russia to accept the expropriation of its frozen assets in Europe and the United States, with these funds directed toward Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Signing a peace treaty would allow Ukraine to preserve its sovereignty and independence, enabling it to continue its integration into the European Union. This would strengthen its economic ties with European countries, providing additional guarantees against pressure from Russia.
Interests of Russia
Russia initially launched the war in Ukraine under the slogans of “denazification” and “demilitarization,” with Putin claiming that far-right nationalist movements in Ukraine were oppressing ethnic Russians and Russian-speaking Ukrainian citizens. He also argued that Ukraine’s pro-European course could lead to NATO membership, bringing a military threat closer to Russia’s borders.
To address these concerns in a peace treaty, Ukraine would need to formally renounce NATO membership for the next 10 years, prohibit the construction of foreign military bases belonging to NATO member states on its territory, and repeal all laws restricting the Russian language in Ukraine, as well as any other legislation that discriminates against Russian-speaking citizens based on ethnicity or language.
Such a treaty would allow Putin to officially declare that the objectives of the “special military operation”—the “denazification” and “demilitarization” of Ukraine—had been achieved. He could reaffirm his repeated claims that “Russia does not seek to seize foreign land,” that it is not an aggressor, and that its goal was never territorial expansion but rather the protection of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine and the prevention of NATO’s advance toward Russia’s borders. These objectives would be met under the proposed peace agreement, enabling Putin to save face before his electorate.
In return, the U.S. and Europe would lift all sanctions on Russia. This would allow Russia to quickly restore its economy through the unrestricted sale of its resources to Europe and other global markets. The loss of frozen assets would, in this case, be an acceptable price for Russia in exchange for reentering full-scale international trade and achieving rapid economic recovery.
Interests of the United States
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has engaged with the Russia-Ukraine conflict based on several key narratives.
First, he has positioned himself as a great peacemaker, promising during his election campaign to bring an end to the war. The signing of a peace agreement would fulfill this pledge, helping Trump restore his weakened reputation within the U.S.
Second, Trump has emphasized that his top priority is protecting American interests in any conflict worldwide. A peace treaty could include a provision stating that, in exchange for the billions of dollars in U.S. aid provided to Ukraine during the war, American companies would receive the right to extract rare earth metals in Ukraine—not for free, but in accordance with existing Ukrainian legislation. Even under these terms, Trump could present the agreement to his electorate as a major victory, boosting his standing among voters.
Interests of Europe
Europe’s primary goal in this conflict is to protect itself from a potential threat posed by Russia. If a peace treaty is signed, the aggressor—Putin—will be halted at Ukraine’s borders, thereby achieving Europe’s main objective.
Additionally, Europe could leverage Article 5 of the NATO Charter to extend protection against external aggression to Ukraine without granting it full NATO membership. This mechanism was previously suggested by the Italian Prime Minister.
Moreover, in exchange for the billions in aid provided to Ukraine during the war, European countries could include provisions requiring Ukraine to rebuild its economy and infrastructure with the involvement of European companies. The largest contracts for the reconstruction of roads, factories, power plants, and other infrastructure projects could be awarded primarily to European firms. Ukraine could also grant European investors preferential treatment, allowing them to establish manufacturing operations once peace is restored.
Thus, all four key participants in the Russia-Ukraine war—Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and Europe—would see their needs met and their objectives achieved.
That’s my brilliant plan. Please relay it immediately to Putin’s and Trump’s teams, as well as to President Zelensky and the leaders of European nations.
No need to thank me.
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