Coupling opposition with diplomacy

Sustained opposition and meaured sanctions against Russia should be coupled a sustained search for diplomatic-political solutions to the tragic and unnecessary outbreak of war in Ukraine. The immediate cessation of fighting, speedy withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and a recognition of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as an acknowlegement of the legitimate security concerns of the Russian people – not just Putin – to the expansion of Nato should constitute the framework of a settlement.

Such a settlement will likely give the autocratic and imperal minded Putin some bounce within Russia and enhance his reputation among autocrats world wide in the near term. But it could also limit his room for maneuver and territorial aggression going forward.

In the longer term, this crisis brings to the surface once again the imperative of constructing a new security architecture in Europe and worldwide, resting on peaceful coexistence, multi-level cooperation, and a scaling back of competing blocs and the weapons of war – chief among them nuclear missiles.

In both cases, the success of these efforts will depend not solely on political leaders, but also the invention of peoples here and across the globe demanding a peaceful and liveable world.