How and When the War in Ukraine Will End
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, with the ceasefire declared in the summer last year but not yet fully implemented. In the past five years, the war between pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian Army has caused devastating losses of life, material damage and psychological suffering on either side of the front line. In order to bring a lasting peace to the region, it is essential to understand how and when the war in Ukraine will end.
Background of the War in Ukraine
The current conflict in Ukraine began when pro-Russian separatist forces attempted to take control of the Southern and Eastern parts of the country. This was in response to the February 2014 Ukrainian revolution that overthrew the former president and brought a pro-Western government to power. Russian President Vladimir Putin then took the opportunity to annex Crimea, a region historically owned by Ukraine, and supported the separatist movements in the South and East.
In the five years since, the Ukrainian government has tried its best to repel the separatist forces and maintain control over its own territory. However, the ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement of people. This is why it’s essential to understand how and when the war in Ukraine will end.
Ceasefire Agreement – a Step to Peace
In July 2019, a new ceasefire was declared in the region in order to initiate a political dialog between the two sides. This agreement was negotiated by the leaders of Ukraine, the separatists and Russia, and was meant to help bring a lasting peace to the region.
The agreement includes some key points:
• An immediate ceasefire and a full withdrawal of military forces from the region
• A total ban on the use of heavy weapons
• The exchange of prisoners of war
• A political dialog between the two sides
The agreement has been relatively successful. The immediate ceasefire and the ban on heavy weapons have led to a significant decrease of violence in the region. However, the agreement has yet to be fully implemented and the political dialogue has not yet taken place.
International Support to End the War
In order to facilitate a lasting peace in the region, international organizations have been playing a key role in both pressuring and supporting the different parties involved in the war.
• The Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been monitoring the ceasefire and reporting on instances of violence. The OSCE has also deployed international forces to ensure that the agreement is adhered to.
• The United Nations (UN) has been providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the war, both on the Ukrainian and the separatist sides.
• The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on Russia in order to pressure them to pull their forces out of Ukraine and end their support of the separatists.
• The United States (US) has provided support to Ukraine, including military aid and diplomatic recognition.
What We Can Expect in the Future
It is hard to predict when exactly the war in Ukraine will end. The current ceasefire agreement is an important step towards peace, but there are still many obstacles to overcome in order to bring a lasting peace to the region.
International organizations such as the OSCE, UN, EU and US have been putting a lot of effort in order to help facilitate peace. However, it is ultimately up to the leaders of Ukraine, the separatists and Russia to negotiate a permanent solution and end the war for good.
Until the leaders of these three parties come to an agreement, it is likely that the conflict will continue to drag on. The only way to bring this war to an end is for the leaders of Ukraine, the separatists and Russia to come to the negotiating table and agree on a lasting solution.
The war in Ukraine has gone on for far too long and it has caused immense destruction and suffering for both peoples living in the South and East of the country and those living in the rest of Ukraine. In order to bring an end to this devastating conflict, the world must come together and provide diplomatic and financial support to help facilitate a lasting peace in the region.
