Only a predictable military defeat can force Putin to make peace.
They supposedly want to end human suffering and bring about peace. They demand an end to sanctions against the Putin system and peace negotiations. They believe that supplying Ukraine with weapons would only prolong the war and, as a result, result in the suffering of the people and the death of thousands. They think that Ukraine would just have to declare its neutrality and the world would go back to the way it was before February 24, 2022. Gas would flow freely, we would have no problems, the world would be in order and at peace. All those who are in favor of supplying weapons to Ukraine, and on a larger scale, are warmongers for them.
You are wrong.
On February 24 this year, Vladimir Putin elevated the war of conquest that had started against Ukraine in 2014 to the level of a war of annihilation. He denies everything Ukrainian and does not want to accept an independent Ukraine. He shows no willingness to engage in peace talks, as are repeatedly demanded by various forces who believe this war is not about Europe.
The author
Rainhard Kloucek is secretary general of the Austrian Pan-European Movement.