Putin Has No Interest in Peace — Only in Ukraine’s Erasure
As international discussions of a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia have proven to be mere Kremlin theatrics, it is crucial to confront a stark truth: Vladimir Putin is not seeking compromise or peace. His objective remains what it has always been—the destruction of Ukraine as a sovereign, independent state.
Over two years into the full-scale invasion, Putin has shown no interest in good-faith negotiations. He continues to demand Ukrainian capitulation, insisting on conditions such as Ukraine’s demilitarization and “de-Nazification”—code for regime change and subjugation. The Russian dictator frames the war as a defensive necessity, yet his rhetoric and military actions consistently signal an ambition to erase Ukraine’s political identity, culture, and territorial integrity.
Western calls for diplomacy, however well-intentioned, often ignore the deeply imperial nature of Russia’s war aims. There is no middle ground between Ukraine’s survival and Russia’s goals. Suggesting a ceasefire or a frozen conflict, without ensuring the full withdrawal of Russian forces, risks rewarding aggression and legitimizing land grabs.
Putin’s actions on the battlefield underscore this reality. Despite repeated setbacks, Russian forces continue their assaults on Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and civilian populations.
Missile and drone attacks target homes, power plants, and hospitals—not for tactical advantage, but to break Ukrainian morale. The Kremlin’s strategy remains unchanged: escalate terror, drain Western resolve, and wait for political fractures to emerge abroad.
Russia’s attack on Sumy, May 18, 2025
Meanwhile, recent Russian statements reveal no intention to honor even the basic principles of international law. At no point has the Kremlin acknowledged Ukraine’s sovereignty or offered withdrawal from occupied territories. Instead, Moscow intensifies efforts to integrate occupied regions—issuing Russian passports, rewriting school curricula, and holding sham elections under military control. These actions are not peace overtures; they are mechanisms of colonization.
As ceasefire rhetoric gains traction in parts of the West—spurred by election cycles, war fatigue, and disinformation campaigns—it is critical to remember what history teaches: authoritarian regimes use negotiations not to compromise, but to regroup.
The 2014–2015 Minsk agreements were violated almost immediately by Russia, which continued arming and directing separatists in Donbas while publicly denying its involvement.
Any future negotiation must therefore start from a position of clarity:
Russia must leave Ukraine. All of it. Anything less risks repeating the mistakes of the past and encouraging future aggression—not only against Ukraine but across Europe.
Ukrainians themselves are clear about their goals. The majority continue to support full territorial restoration, including Crimea, and oppose any concessions that would reward Russia’s military invasion. Western leaders who respect Ukrainian democracy must listen to Ukrainian voices—not pressure them into settlements that would leave their country amputated and vulnerable.
In short, Putin does not want peace—he wants victory. He wants a Ukraine that cannot choose its allies, govern its people, or defend its land. Until the West accepts this truth and aligns its policy accordingly, Ukraine will continue to pay the price for illusions of diplomacy.