The Only Way to End the War in Ukraine

Key Points – With the Russia-Ukraine war devolved into a grinding quagmire and recent peace talks failing, a direct, in-person tripartite summit between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is proposed as the only path to a breakthrough.

-This high-stakes meeting, suggested to be held in Minsk, Belarus, would involve only the three leaders to hash out a ceasefire or armistice, potentially creating a Korean-style demilitarized zone.

-Tactical successes like Ukraine’s recent drone strike on Russian bombers are seen as insufficient to strategically alter the war, necessitating hands-on, top-level diplomatic intervention led by President Trump.

Let’s Get Trump, Putin, and Zelensky in a Room for Peace Talks

I remember the first day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine well. My phone started buzzing with notifications, and I jumped out of bed at around 6 a.m. It was not that surprising since Vladimir Putin had been massing his forces at the Ukrainian border for weeks, but when the attack finally happened, I put my game face on.

At the time, I was working on a story about Russian Spetsnaz special forces and how they were massing to take Kyiv quickly. I thought Russia would roll into the capital in a matter of weeks and send Volodymyr Zelensky packing. That never happened.

I Foresaw a Quick End to the War

As a Russian security specialist at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs, I often warned my students that an invasion could spark at any day. I thought that the main force would come from Belarus to reach Kyiv quickly. This lightning strike would have put the world in a state of panic, leading to a rapid capitulation of the Ukrainian government. Who knew what Putin’s final plan would be for the annexation of the entire country?

These fears proved unfounded as the brave fighters defending their homeland fought valiantly, employing innovations rarely seen in modern warfare. Javelin anti-tank missiles, drones, multiple-launch rocket systems – all made the Russians pay.

Devolution to World War One

However, Putin’s generals adjusted their tactics and went on the defense. Both sides dug trenches, and the conflict devolved into something out of a World War One movie with ghastly face-to-face skirmishes and artillery barrages that killed and wounded tens of thousands.

What Will Happen Next?

What are we now seeing long-term in this war? Despite the most successful asymmetric drone raid of the conflict (the recent integrated unmanned swarm attack on Russian heavy bombers), nothing changed on the front lines.

Peace negotiations have failed. Both sides are reluctant to talk, and the last meeting between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators lasted about an hour before it petered out.

We are back to the quagmire stage. Both sides are going to trade long-range drone strikes. Putin and his generals are looking for vengeance for the “Pearl Harbor” drone strike and will cook up something irresistible for payback.

Glimpse Into Doomsday

The Russians are likely running secretive drills that simulate a tactical nuclear weapon detonation. Putin may even test one to scare the Ukrainians and shock the world into thinking that nuclear Armageddon could happen at any time.

Returning to existing battle lines has surprised me. With the election of Donald Trump, I figured that the boisterous president would make good on his pledge to end the war. He is disappointed in both sides that seem to have ignored his pleadings for peace.

I am optimistic about at least a ceasefire and negotiations that could lead to an armistice and a Korean-like demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia. This would be policed by a consortium of troops evenly split between NATO personnel and soldiers from Russian allies.

The DMZ idea would be challenging due to the extensive frontlines, but the line of demarcation between South Korea and North Korea has maintained peace on the peninsula for decades. This could also work between Ukraine and Russia.

The Difference Between Tactics and Strategy

If I were advising Zelensky, I would try to convince him that there is a difference between tactics, operational art, and strategy. This means that Ukraine needs to design a feasible endgame. If that entails retaking territory, then a new offensive must breach Russian defenses and establish the ability to hold seized ground. However, Ukraine attempted this during the Kursk incursion, which ultimately failed.

Joining NATO and reverting to the 1991 borders would be impossible now. Tactical moves, no matter how effective, like the latest drone strike against Russian strategic bombers, have only a short-term effect.

The Ukrainians can still build their force of swarming drones and continue to fight back, but how long does Zelensky want to extend this war? Russia is happy to fight on indefinitely. I don’t see either side “winning” outright. Russia and Ukraine are too evenly matched, and Moscow has the defense industrial base to build additional materiel and ammunition for the long haul. Additionally, Putin could conduct another personnel mobilization to augment the number of soldiers in the fight. North Korea could also send additional fighters to help Russia.

This situation falls on Trump personally. He must take hands-on control and focus his energy on ending this war rather than fighting with Elon Musk, which achieves nothing.

How to End the Ukraine War

I call for a tripartite summit with Zelensky, Putin, and Trump meeting together in Eastern Europe – not the Middle East. I would recommend the location to be Minsk, Belarus, so the talks can be held close to the battlefield to heighten the sense of urgency. Let’s get all three leaders in a room to hash this out. No other staff members could be inside except for translators and note-takers. It is time for a serious talk among the three leaders until there is some type of peace breakthrough.

Trump can play the devil’s advocate and keep the agenda moving. The participants would burn the midnight oil until there is some type of breakthrough that Ukraine and Russia can agree on. This is the only negotiating ploy that will work, and I anticipate it will occur within the next couple of months.

Peace is still attainable, and both Russia and Ukraine must know that this war cannot keep going on for the rest of this year. It is becoming a frozen conflict and forever war – just what Trump pledged to avoid during the campaign.

It is time to pursue a tripartite in-person summit. This would be the future of peace and a new hope to end the slaughter.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.

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