Ukraine war: how urgent is the need for a ceasefire?
Pope Francis has said he is praying for new negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine. He is not alone. As the battle lines harden on the ground, calls for Ukraine to seek a negotiated solution with Russia as soon as possible are again growing louder in the West in view of looming energy shortages and a global hunger crisis.
Compromise better than ever-smouldering fires
Diplomat Gérard Araud calls for a peaceful solution in Le Point - even if it would mean a lose-lose situation:
“There is the danger that this war will drag on indefinitely, possibly in the form of a low intensity conflict. When the time comes, the European states must push for a ceasefire. ... They must bring concrete arguments to the table in Kyiv and Moscow; potentially throwing their principles overboard in order to find compromises. If they fail, the conflict on Europe's border will smoulder away indefinitely. Ukraine will end up as a ravaged battlefield. Our interests and our consciences cannot allow us to live with this.”
Balm for the Western soul
Navalny's former chief of staff Leonid Volkov expresses his fears on Facebook at the prospect of Ukraine being unable to defend itself out of consideration for the West:
“At present Ukraine is enjoying considerable support from the West. But if a 'bad peace' is agreed, and a line is drawn across Ukraine, the situation will change radically. To start fighting again just as European voters are breathing a sigh of relief that the war is over - that will be politically very difficult. Even if large numbers of troops and modern weaponry are offered, news of a battle against the occupiers of Cherson or Isium will be received very differently in the West. 'Things had only just calmed down and now they're starting to shoot again.'”