Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was right to weigh Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal Israel mediate talks between Kyiv and Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin, apparently, was not enthused by the prospect. Still, it is important Israel not stand on the sidelines.
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If both sides are genuinely interested in ending this conflict, solutions can be found that meet both countries' demands. Possible principles of such an agreement might include limiting an agreement between both countries to a maximum of 10 years, after which they could be raised for discussion. Both countries should recognize the other's right to live in peace, and Russia should immediately withdraw from Ukrainian territory captured since Thursday.
As for Ukrainian territories that Russia took control of eight years ago, another referendum, to be overseen by international observers from either the EU or the UN, would be held to determine their fate. Until that point in time, these would territories would be designated disputed areas to be managed by Russia and which Ukraine would continue to demand sovereignty over.
Ukraine would agree not to join NATO but would not commit to remaining outside the EU for as long as the agreement with Russia is in effect.
Ukraine would receive compensation for casualties and property damage incurred during the Russian invasion. The extent of the compensation would be determined by the UN.
Sanctions imposed by organizations and states on Russia over its conquest of territories in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 would be rescinded until once Russia was found to be living up to its side of the agreement.
Clearly, there will be those who argue an agreement in this spirit would not be right and would reward the aggressor. Right now, however, the chief objective should be putting an end to the violence and preventing Putin's Russia from realizing its aim of conquering further territory in if not all of Ukraine and harming its leadership.
From Ukraine's perspective, the advantage of such an agreement would be the cessation of violence and a return to the status of Feb. 23. The Russians would see the removal of sanctions, including its removal from the SWIFT global payment system. Another important advantage from Moscow's perspective is that would include the possible recognition of Russian-annexed territories in another 10 years.
It's not too late to stop the descent into darkness.
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