BELGRADE – SERBIA
500+ participants / 80+ panelists / 16+ panels
BSC2024
18-20 NOVEMBER
Day 2
11:15 – 12:15
Re-defining “Victory” in Ukraine?
| Since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the debates have risen around the dichotomy peace versus victory as most desirable temporal solution to end the war. Kyiv, as well as some of its key allies (such as the United Kingdom) have claimed that the victory defined as complete liberation of the occupied Ukrainian territory (including Crimea) is the only possible way for ending the war. Some officials even argue that the end of the Putin’s rule should be the goal of the Ukrainian side in the war. On the other hand, many voices have been raised arguing that peace should be the guiding principle in defining and thinking the cease of hostilities. As Ukraine is entering the third year of a devasting war, how do these opposite thinking views stand against each other? Has Europe developed war fatigue in regard with the Russian aggression, and would Kyiv accept the pressures coming from some Western capitals for a ceasefire? Is it possible to imagine temporal political solution that would end hostilities, with Russian forces still occupying Crimea and majority of Donbas? Will the economic costs of the war force Kyiv to peace negotiation? Can the European integration of Ukraine re-define Kyiv’s official goals in the war? |