DPG Policy Brief
Ending the Ukraine Conflict
Date: March 07, 2025
Recent weeks have witnessed fast-paced developments related to the conflict in Ukraine, as US President Donald Trump has moved forward with proactive steps to explore the prospects for peace with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine. These have included pressing a hesitant Ukraine towards the peace table, while engaging Russia.
Europe is concerned that President Trump is upending the hegemony of the “liberal order” led by the “collective West” and asserting the standalone primacy of US interests. However, resistance to Trump’s initiatives from European leaders has also revealed mindsets that have shut out the room for dialogue and diplomacy with Russia as the most viable option to restore peace. The harsh reality is that without peace, Ukraine and Europe are headed for an uncertain future.
Against this backdrop, the author begins by recalling key assessments regarding the nature of the conflict in Europe and prospects for its peaceful resolution that he had made as far back as February, 2023 but which continue to remain entirely relevant today.
Turning to the present juncture, he draws attention to the massive human and material costs of the conflict on both sides, as also the resulting blows to global order. If durable peace is to ensue, it will need to be negotiated; outcomes cannot be imposed on the battlefield.
The author observes that President Trump has stood alone among Western leaders in calling for an end to a “horrific and brutal conflict”, and appears determined to persevere. While Ukraine seems to have come on board under strong US pressure, Europe is still struggling to find a balance between support for Ukraine and making room for peace.
This complex scenario suggests that the US role is indispensable for mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine, and that President Trump will be the main protagonist in this endeavour.
These developments should be welcomed by India, which has repeatedly highlighted the need for Ukraine and Russia to engage directly in a peace process.
The author concludes that if Trump as “peacemaker” can deliver on his promise to end the Ukraine conflict (and others), this will unquestionably have a stabilising impact on world order, as will a return to relative normalcy in ties between the US and Russia.
In this realist world, sovereign nations have to take control over their own destiny; there is no place for free riding or dependency. India must redouble efforts to build national resilience and comprehensive power.
To read this DPG Policy Brief Vol. X, Issue 9, please click “Ending the Ukraine Conflict”.
Europe is concerned that President Trump is upending the hegemony of the “liberal order” led by the “collective West” and asserting the standalone primacy of US interests. However, resistance to Trump’s initiatives from European leaders has also revealed mindsets that have shut out the room for dialogue and diplomacy with Russia as the most viable option to restore peace. The harsh reality is that without peace, Ukraine and Europe are headed for an uncertain future.
Against this backdrop, the author begins by recalling key assessments regarding the nature of the conflict in Europe and prospects for its peaceful resolution that he had made as far back as February, 2023 but which continue to remain entirely relevant today.
Turning to the present juncture, he draws attention to the massive human and material costs of the conflict on both sides, as also the resulting blows to global order. If durable peace is to ensue, it will need to be negotiated; outcomes cannot be imposed on the battlefield.
The author observes that President Trump has stood alone among Western leaders in calling for an end to a “horrific and brutal conflict”, and appears determined to persevere. While Ukraine seems to have come on board under strong US pressure, Europe is still struggling to find a balance between support for Ukraine and making room for peace.
This complex scenario suggests that the US role is indispensable for mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine, and that President Trump will be the main protagonist in this endeavour.
These developments should be welcomed by India, which has repeatedly highlighted the need for Ukraine and Russia to engage directly in a peace process.
The author concludes that if Trump as “peacemaker” can deliver on his promise to end the Ukraine conflict (and others), this will unquestionably have a stabilising impact on world order, as will a return to relative normalcy in ties between the US and Russia.
In this realist world, sovereign nations have to take control over their own destiny; there is no place for free riding or dependency. India must redouble efforts to build national resilience and comprehensive power.
To read this DPG Policy Brief Vol. X, Issue 9, please click “Ending the Ukraine Conflict”.
