What does Ending the Ukraine War Mean?

By David W Wang

As the Russia’s war in Ukraine just passed 100 days, the world seems yet to see any light in the tunnel for where the war is heading for. Some debates have arisen about the best approach to end this war. One way of thinking was represented by Henry Kissinger, who has suggested in his recent video conversation at Davos that resolving the conflict over Ukraine may involve territorial adjustments.

To achieve the goal suggested by Kissinger, President Zelenskyy and his government must accept that Ukraine will be a neutral state and that it will concede to Russia the Donbas oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as Crimea.

Kissinger’s stance or similar suggestion is now backed or kind of backed by France, Germany, Italy, and other European powers including Turkey.

The opposite is the so-called “decisive victory” posture, as typically epitomized by the Estonian prime minister, Kaja Kallas, whose position is Russia “must be defeated at all costs, and without compromise.” That may mean a total failure of Russia, and also a restoration of Ukraine’s borders, including Crimea, as well as the imposition of reparations on Russia for its infrastructure destruction and crimes against humanity.

Such decisive victory position is supported by Poland, Estonia, and other Eastern European members of NATO…