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Former US Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger said on Monday that Ukraine should cede territory to Russia to help end the invasion, suggesting a position opposed by the vast majority of Ukrainians when the war enters its fourth month.
At a conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Kissinger urged the United States and the West not to seek a shameful defeat for Russia in Ukraine, warning that it could worsen Europe’s long-term stability.
After saying that Western countries should remember the importance of Russia for Europe and not let themselves be dragged “into the mood of the moment”, Kissinger also urged the West to force Ukraine to accept negotiations with a ” status quo ante “, which means the previous state. of affairs.
“Negotiations should begin in the next two months before it creates disruptions and tensions that will not be easily overcome. Ideally, the dividing line should be a return to the status quo ante,” said Kissinger, 98. , according to the Daily Telegraph. “Pursuing war beyond this point would not be about Ukraine’s freedom, but a new war against Russia itself.”
The “status quo ante” mentioned by Kissinger, who was Secretary of State to Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald Ford, refers to restoring a situation in which Russia formally controlled Crimea and informally controlled the two easternmost regions. of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed that part of his conditions for entering into peace talks with Russia would include restoring pre-invasion borders.
Kissinger’s comments come as world leaders say Russia’s war in Ukraine has called into question “the whole international order.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told world leaders in Davos that the war is not only “a matter of Ukraine’s survival” or “a matter of European security”, but also “a task for the whole world community. ” He lamented the “destructive fury” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said that Russia could one day regain its place in Europe if “it finds its way back to democracy, the rule of law and respect for order.” rules-based international law … because Russia is our neighbor. ” . ”
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Much of Ukraine agrees with Zelensky not to cede land in exchange for peace. A poll conducted by the International Institute of Sociology in Kyiv this month found that 82% of Ukrainians are unwilling to cede any land in Ukraine, even if that means the war will drag on. Only 10 percent believe it is worth giving up land to end the invasion, while 8 percent were undecided, according to a May 13-Wednesday poll.
The sample did not include residents of territories that were not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities before February 24, such as Crimea, Sevastopol and some districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The survey also did not include citizens who went abroad after February 24th.
Kissinger’s comments follow a recent editorial in the New York Times editorial board arguing that Ukraine should make “painful territorial decisions” to achieve peace.
“In the end, it is the Ukrainians who have to make the difficult decisions: they are the ones who fight, die and lose their homes due to the Russian aggression, and they are the ones who have to decide what the end of the war “. The Times editorial board wrote Thursday. “If the conflict leads to real negotiations, it will be the Ukrainian leaders who will have to make the painful territorial decisions required by any compromise.”
The publisher received a negative reaction, including Zelensky’s adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, who said that “any concession to Russia is not a path to peace, but a war postponed for several years.”
In his remarks on Monday, Kissinger, a longtime advocate of a realpolitik approach that puts nations putting their practical goals ahead of morality and principles, urged European leaders not to lose sight of the place. from Russia to Europe and risk the country forming a permanent alliance with China. .
“I hope the Ukrainians match the heroism they have wisely demonstrated,” he said, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Critics described Kissinger’s comments as what he called “an unfortunate intervention.” Inna Sovsun, a member of the Ukrainian parliament, denounced Kissinger’s position as “truly shameful!”
“It is a pity that the former US Secretary of State believes that giving up part of the sovereign territory is a way of peace for any country!” Sovsun tweeted.
Podolyak went back to saying that Ukraine could not cede territory, even if it led to peace, saying that the country “does not exchange its sovereignty for someone to fill its portfolio.” He tweeted an old photo of Kissinger shaking hands with Putin on Tuesday, with Podolyak saying he was grateful that Ukrainians fighting in the war did not listen to the diplomat’s suggestion.
“As easily as Mr. #Kissinger proposes to give [Russia] part of [Ukraine] to stop the war would allow Poland or Lithuania to be taken away, “Podolyak said.” It’s good that Ukrainians in the trenches don’t have time to listen to ‘Davos in a panic. They are a little busy defending Freedom and Democracy. “
With the ease with which Mr. Kissinger proposes to donate to stop the war, he would allow Poland or Lithuania to be taken away. It is good that the Ukrainians in the trenches do not have time to listen to “Davos in a panic.” They are a bit busy defending Freedom and Democracy. pic.twitter.com/2zraPDummx
– Michael Podolyak (@Podolyak_M) May 24, 2022
Adela Suliman contributed to this report.