OPINION:
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, having the apparent intention of incorporating the entire country into Russia, flies in the face of the world order established after World War II.
That order, under the jurisdiction of the United Nations, was intended to prevent the catastrophic consequences, including millions of military and civilian deaths, of the 20th century’s two world wars. Those were instigated by the notion that a nation could legitimately seize control of another nation’s territory on the grounds that the population of that territory shared cultural, linguistic, religious or other traits with the conqueror.
Given the horrific costs to Russia of its recent conquest of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory (including over 1 million casualties), there seems to be a general expectation that a short-term solution to this tragedy may include incorporation of some, if not all, of the conquered territory into the Russian Federation.
Of course, Ukraine adamantly opposes any such “solution.” But I believe there may be a “middle ground” that would be acceptable to Ukraine while allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to make the case that his invasion protected Russia’s national security and long-term cultural and historical role in Ukraine.
Under my “middle ground” proposal, Russia would remove its troops from conquered Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine would agree that the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions would remain a “demilitarized zone” in which neither country would station troops. Although those regions would be politically governed by Ukraine, Russia might be afforded certain rights that would protect its interest in preserving that region’s Russian heritage.
For example, Russia might be authorized to establish and run a Russian-language public school system in which any resident of the region would be free to enroll its children, and the Russian Orthodox Church might be allowed to establish its own parishes and dioceses for Ukrainians inclined to follow that church’s lead.
While Ukrainian membership in NATO may seem consistent with this approach, Russia under Mr. Putin would likely see that as a step too far. Instead, Ukraine might insist on permission to join the European Union, whose European members would effectively guarantee it military protection against a Russian invasion of any part of Ukraine, including the demilitarized zone.
WILLIAM W. CHIP
Washington
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