Pathways towards peace and healing exist in Ukraine
A recent visit to the beaches of Normandy provided the backdrop for powerful and clear reflections on the parallels between World War II and the present war in Ukraine. The unfolding situation is hauntingly familiar with an authoritarian despot disregarding basic human decency, breaking international law and brutalizing a neighboring country in Europe.
At this moment there are no apparent exit ramps for either party in the conflict. There are, however, possibilities to explore and here are six potential pathways to peace and healing:
Diplomacy
The West’s unity to date in supporting Ukraine has been extraordinary but is not assured in the future. Combatting competing economic priorities and the potential for “Ukraine fatigue” will be paramount for Ukraine’s allies.
Maximum pressure needs to be maintained on Russia’s trading partners China and India to discourage their tacit or direct support of the aggression against Ukraine.
Nothing short of an unrelenting diplomatic full-court press is needed to isolate Russia as a rogue nation. In that spirit, the official designation by the U.S. of Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism” is warranted and overdue.
Shine the light of truth
Truth is the enemy of the former KGB agent, Vladimir Putin. The more that the grim reality of his naked aggression and the loss of Russian and Ukrainian lives is exposed to his people via social media and other channels, the more disenchanted the average Russian citizen will become. Such a shift in domestic public awareness would not only encourage Putin to change course in Ukraine but it could also embolden the inner circles at the Kremlin and the oligarchs to make a change at the top.
Envisage carrots beyond the stick
Upon the withdrawal from Ukraine of the Russian forces, the senseless loss of blood and treasure will halt on both sides. This would be a signal to the Russians who have fled the country due to military conscription and the war (upwards of a million people) that they could consider returning home. Lifting the embargo will bring consumer goods that have been sorely missed by the Russian population. The return to the world stage of Russian sports and culture will be a source of pride. In short, engaging the Russian people in a positive, post-war vision could potentially accelerate an end to the conflict.
Ukraine’s reconstruction
The extraordinary Ukrainian spirit remains unbowed by Russian aggression and will need to be turned to the monumental task of rebuilding. An updated Marshall Plan (under a new name) funded by Russian reparations, the U.S. and Western allies, along with the World Bank and the UN will be needed.
Healing of Ukrainians
Beyond the physical destruction of large swaths of Eastern Ukraine, the impact on the collective mental health of the country’s citizenry has been incalculable.
The return of peace will be the first and most fundamental step to healing. It will allow families to reunite, children to sleep without sirens and explosions, businesses to reopen, and life to return to normal in cities, towns and villages.
Additionally, there are evidence-based tools to deal with stress, anxiety and in extreme cases, PTSD. Transforming trauma needs to be a central part of the support for Ukraine during these latter stages of the war and thereafter.
Accountability
Part of helping the world achieve closure and move beyond World War II was the establishment of the Nuremberg trials of senior Nazi officials. Similarly, a special tribunal must be established to adjudicate Russia’s crimes of aggression with a focus on the senior-most officials, including Putin. This will be an essential element for delivering justice after the terror inflicted on Ukraine by Russia’s callous disregard for international law and basic human decency.
In summary, no country should have to endure the kind of aggression that Russia has unleashed on Ukraine. Paths to peace and healing need to now be prioritized so that humankind can end the war, liberate Ukraine and move to a more durable peace among the family of nations with our better angels leading the way.