The Narrow Bottleneck of Ukraine-Russia Reconciliation

Submission Statement: How past and present Russian actions impede the prospects for reconciliation with Ukraine. What happens when Russia’s war in Ukraine is over? The reconciliation between Ukraine and Russia is a complex process that, if rushed, could worsen the conflict rather than resolve it. Elena Davlikanova explains that achieving effective reconciliation demands patience, caution, attention to detail, and an understanding that one-size-fits-all solutions will not work. Western leaders must adopt a pragmatic approach, acknowledging the depth of Russia’s aggressive imperialism and carefully applying conventional reconciliation mechanisms to this unique context.