To revisit the dynamics surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war, we must start with the fundamental premise: war is the continuation of politics by other means. A military instrument is employed when the objective is to alter the existing peace—the status quo—into a "new peace" that aligns more closely with one’s interests. When no other avenue remains and the objective is existential, war commences. This is a classic formulation.
Given this reality, a cessation of hostilities without security guarantees offers nothing to either Europe or Ukraine, so long as the capacity and will to resist remain. Until the fundamental law of war—imposing one's will through force—takes full effect, the conflict persists. Ultimately, the goal of any war is to force the adversary to accept the "new peace" dictated by the aggressor.
Let us recall the Kremlin’s pre-war objectives: the so-called "denazification" and demilitarization of Ukraine, and its permanent severance from a Western trajectory, specifically precluding NATO integration. Ukraine’s significance to any Russian project—which is inherently imperial in nature—is paramount. In Putin's vision, there is no "Third Rome" without these Slavic territories; this is the core of their imperial perception. To date, these maximalist goals remain unachieved, with control established only over partial territories.
