Ending the Ukraine war

After over three years of war, it appears that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine may  be around the corner. Ukraine has offered a 30-day truce with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the idea but sought addressing of the root causes of the conflict. Incidentally, in his first public statement on a ceasefire proposal, Putin acknowledged leaders such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the US President Donald Trump for their role in seeking a resolution. Calling it a “noble mission,” Putin underlined the importance of ending hostilities and preventing further loss of life.

India has maintained a delicate balancing act throughout the war, straddling the divide between Russian and Western stances on the war.  In his meeting with Trump at the White House last month, PM Modi made it clear that India is not neutral but sided with peace. Earlier in the war, the PM, in a message to Putin, pointed out that this was not the era of war.

However, the global discourse on the Ukraine war has drastically shifted since Trump’s return to power. But Putin has stressed that short-term pauses alone cannot resolve the deeper issues at the heart of the conflict, insisting that a ceasefire must lead to a lasting peace.  This has highlighted the challenges in the way of the efforts to restore peace. Putin doesn't want peace just with Ukraine but also with the US-led west which he blames for expanding their military alliance NATO until the borders of Russia. He also doesn’t want Ukraine to join NATO or be offered western security guarantees. Would the West accept these conditions? It remains to be seen.

For any real progress, sustained engagement from global powers is essential. The United States has a crucial role to play, not just in facilitating talks but in shaping a framework that ensures a stable, long-term peace. Although Trump has put his weight behind ending the war, his unpredictability remains a source of concern.

The urgency to end wars, however, should not stop with Ukraine; a similar commitment is needed for Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire is already fraying. The United States must ensure that its diplomatic efforts extend beyond political convenience—because whether in Kyiv or Gaza, human suffering demands an end.