Future Peace Deal Between Russia and Ukraine
A recent article in Foreign Policy Magazine by Anatol Lieven (August 27, 2024) highlights for me the deep cleft between how the Russian elite see a future peace deal and how Ukraine and its supporters. Lieven, who has connexions into the Russian establishment, asked various high placed people what they see as a realistic path toward peace. It seems that they all presume that Russia will keep what it occupies, that “a friendly regime” will be installed in Kyiv, and that Ukraine will be neutral (i.e., not in NATO). Some even suggest a further buffer zone into Ukrainian territory along the demarcation line. Their idea is that, while Ukraine would not be expected to recognize Russian annexations (something that Russia’s “Global South” partners in BRICS and beyond would not support, apparently), after enough decades, the matter would be forgotten by the global community and become a de facto reality, such as the Turkish Cypriot Republ...