The Russian invasion of Ukraine that started in the last week of February 2022 was an unfortunate event, not only for peace in Eurasia but also for global stability. For more than two centuries, Ukraine remained under the control of Czarist Russia and later the Soviet Union, until the USSR disintegrated. Western powers often take credit for the Soviet collapse; however, it was, in fact, a carefully thought-out program initiated by the USSR itself under Mikhail Gorbachev. His intent was to reform Russia and its constituent republics, with the expectation that the Western world would support these efforts. Gorbachev was even given political assurances that NATO would not expand eastward. In reality, NATO’s very relevance should have ended with the dissolution of both the USSR and the Warsaw Pact.

Despite this, the European Union admitted former Soviet republics—such as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—into NATO, creating what Russia perceived as a direct threat. Ukraine, too, sought to follow the same path, encouraged by Western powers, despite its deep cultural, linguistic, and ethnic commonalities with Russia.

In response to the West’s posture after the USSR’s disintegration, Russia began consolidating its military strength and, under Vladimir Putin, re-emerged as even more powerful both militarily and diplomatically than the former Soviet Union. President Zelensky, instead of focusing on Ukraine’s development without antagonizing Russia, chose to pursue NATO membership. In doing so, he displayed political immaturity by relying too heavily on Western assurances. The result has been catastrophic—Ukraine now bears the heavy cost of Russian military action. In reality, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has become a proxy war, fought on Ukrainian soil between the Western bloc, primarily Western Europe, and Russia.

After more than three years of war, it appears that both Russia and Ukraine have begun to realize the necessity of ending hostilities. In this regard, efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to mediate and secure a ceasefire deserve recognition, even if his motivations may be influenced by the prospect of winning a Nobel Peace Prize. The recent meetings—between Trump and Putin on August 15, 2025, in Alaska, and between Trump and Zelensky in Washington, D.C.—were significant steps toward peace. However, the involvement of the EU and NATO in the negotiations is both unwarranted and counterproductive, as their actions largely contributed to the crisis in the first place. For these peace talks to succeed, the EU must be kept at a distance, and President Zelensky must recognize this reality if he truly wishes to restore peace to Ukraine.