"There must be some way out of here" - A possible basis for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine

I just watched Biden’s response to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s address to the US Congress. Basically, he reiterated the US/NATO’s commitment to supplying more arms to Ukraine, while avoiding the issue of a “no fly zone”, which NATO had ruled out earlier in the day. The question Biden did not address is whether the current escalation (more arms to Ukraine, ramping up sanctions on Russia) is more or less likely to end the violence being suffered by the people of Ukraine.

Weapons transfer by the US, the world’s largest arms dealer, began before the Russian invasion. The Obama administration resisted providing overt lethal assistance to Ukraine, concerned that such a move by the U.S. would provoke Russia. But, first under Trump and then, to a greater extent, under Biden, the US began to send large amounts of military “aid” to Ukraine, some $650 million in 2021 alone. Since the invasion the US has added at least $1 billion more, and that does not include other NATO nations’ contributions.

Western nations must ask themselves whether the current course of action is more or less likely to help end the violence being imposed on Ukraine’s civilian population. It should be clear that Ukraine cannot defeat the Russians militarily, so, barring a negotiated end to the war, Ukraine will be subjected to a long and brutal military occupation/urban guerilla war. If the US/NATO strategy is heading in that direction, it will not in any way benefit the people of Ukraine.

If you are interested in a more complete analysis of the futility of pursuing escalation, check out - Jeremy Scahill’s article from the Intercept - https://theintercept.com/2022/03/10/ukraine-russia-nato-weapons/

The following proposal for beginning talks on a negotiated settlement is from CODEPINK. It should be noted that the Ukrainian president has already hinted that he would accept the second and third points, which have been the crux of the Russian demands. Much of the rest is up to the US/NATO, who must be recognized as a party to the conflict, since they are providing billions in arms to Ukraine.

In addition, others have argued (and I agree), if the situation in Eastern Europe is to be stabilized, the US must commit to reinstating the nuclear weapons agreements it has abrogated over the past few years and begin negotiations on removing all nuclear weapons from Europe (in exchanged for the Russians removing their nuclear weapons from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Oh, I forgot, the Russians don't have nuclear weapons in those countries.)

On a more serious note, ideas on the road to peace from CODEPINK

RUSSIA MUST WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS and commit to respecting the sovereignty of Ukraine, but the United States must also be clear that it supports and is ready to commit to the following:

• Continued rejection of a no-fly zone over Ukraine;
• No NATO expansion;
• Recognition of Ukraine as a neutral country;
• An off-ramp for sanctions on Russia to be lifted;
• Support for an international security agreement to protect the interests of all people on the European continent to remain free from war and occupation; 
• Support for Ukrainian demilitarization to the degree that missiles would be banned;
• Supply humanitarian aid to Ukraine and support Ukrainian refugees.