Ukraine will win only when Russia loses all weapons of mass destruction – diplomat

This viewpoint is presented by Oleksandr Aleksandrovych, a special ambassador and former head of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International Security, in his recent article for the Kyiv Security Forum.

Aleksandrovych underscores that the foreseeable future doesn't hold the prospect of Russia's integration as a democratic nation into Europe. This is due to the inherent incompatibility of their value system with that of Europe. Therefore, Ukraine and the world must prepare to coexist with a post-war Russia.

"Many of Ukraine's allies believe that the ultimate goal is to weaken Russia to a point where it cannot threaten its neighbors ever again. What does this mean in practical terms? The answer is clear: Russia needs to be stripped of all forms of mass destruction – nuclear, chemical, and biological," emphasizes Oleksandr Alexandrovych.

"Only then can Ukraine and other potential targets truly feel secure," he adds.

The diplomat points out that following Ukraine's victory on the battlefield and the restoration of its territorial integrity to the 1991 borders, international sanctions against Russia should be sustained and linked to its complete demilitarization.

"A Russia without nuclear arms is a beneficial prospect for both the United States and China. These two global superpowers can collaborate on this vital task, momentarily putting aside their geopolitical competition... This will lead to a much safer world for everyone," he suggests.

In closing, Alexandrovych summarizes, "The alternative to such a scenario would be persistent conflicts initiated by the Russian Empire against its neighbors, including NATO members, occurring every 10-15 years. Even NATO's security guarantees would not deter this outcome."