The irony is that all this fracas may actually indicate that some kind of genuine, if ugly, peace is more possible now than under Biden, when an unwillingness to face the realities on the ground blocked both any chance of discussion and any hope of forcing a military solution on Moscow. It remains unclear what Putin will ultimately be willing to accept. The Kremlin has indicated that it would not oppose Ukraine joining the European Union, and this comes with its own pledge of military assistance, one ironically even more substantial than NATO s Article 5. Perhaps the promise of being able to retain the territories it has conquered, coupled with a guarantee of no NATO membership for Ukraine and at least partial sanctions relief would be enough for Moscow. Likewise, foreign peacekeepers, sustained reconstruction aid, and a fast-track to EU membership could be enough for Ukraine.
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