In an interview with the Swiss journal Zeitgeschehen im Fokus published on Dec. 23, retired Gen. Harald Kujat, former Chair of the NATO Military Committee (2002-2005) and Inspector General of the German Armed Forces (2000-2002), reiterated that there is no acceptable option for Ukraine that can be won on the battlefield, nor is there any possibility of bringing down the Russian economy. U.S. President Donald Trump made steps in the right direction, which must be based on diplomacy, said Kujat, but Europe has so far undermined that by maximalist demands—such as keeping open a future membership in NATO for Ukraine—that prevent any settlement. Europe must finally be constructive in its own interest. General Kujat concluded that a solution must be based on four points:
“Firstly, only a peace agreement that is in the interests of Ukraine and Russia and is acceptable to both the U.S. and Europe will create the conditions for a just and lasting European security and peace order. This would be the greatest ‘security guarantee’ for Ukraine.
“Secondly, the start of peace negotiations must no longer be allowed to fail because of maximalist positions. Each side will have to make painful concessions. The price of not negotiating is higher than the price of compromise, as the reality of recent years has shown.
“Thirdly, for Europe, this means not delaying the start of negotiations by constantly demanding changes to the American negotiating concept. A military defeat for Ukraine or an unregulated ceasefire without a political framework would worsen, not improve, the European security situation.
“Fourthly, Europe should assume responsibility for our continent in peace and freedom in the spirit of self-assertion. Not against the U.S., not against Russia or China, but for our security and well-being, for a predictable Europe, for an international order that contains conflicts rather than fueling them.”
