Zelensky should consider stopping the war on the current front line – a member of The New York Times editorial board

Ukraine should not ignore the possibility of reaching a peace agreement with Russia on the current front line, as victory in war is determined not only by territorial gains and losses.

Such an opinion was expressed in The New York Times by the well-known publicist and political commentator, a member of the newspaper’s editorial board, Serge Schmemann.

Commenting on the recent resonant publication in The New York Times about signals from the Kremlin indicating readiness for a peaceful agreement, Schmemann cautiously notes that these signals are both “suspicious and tempting” at the same time.

He acknowledges that hypothetical peace talks could be a trap set by Putin but urges to consider the potential benefits.

“If Mr. Putin turns out to be serious [about his intentions for peace], Ukraine should not miss the opportunity to stop the bloodshed. The return of territory is not the only way to win this war. Ukraine’s real victory lies in rising from the hell of war as a strong, independent, prosperous, and secure state,” the commentator writes.

Earlier, the authoritative journal Foreign Affairs stated that Ukraine needs to shift to a defensive stance and offer Russia a ceasefire, while Zelensky named the main condition for starting negotiations with Russia as the return to Ukraine’s actual borders according to international law.