The political calculus of peace in Ukraine

In Ukraine, few words carry as much weight — or as much political risk — as peace.

In early October, several prominent Ukrainian politicians publicly called for an end to Russia's war on terms many considered to be closer to the Kremlin's desires. Their proposals differed, but the public reaction revealed a deep-seated fear: that calls for peace could be a prelude to concessions to Moscow rather than a path to a just settlement.

In these recent statements, critics see more than a desire to stop the fighting. They suspect political maneuvering: populist appeals, and politicians' attempts to position themselves for a future contest for power, or efforts to test how much compromise the public might tolerate.

Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / Libkos via Getty Images.