“Continuing to play the balance of power between countries is deadly for people. russia and ukraine war now that there are no losers or winners.” The former ambassador of Spain to Russia and the United Nations, Joan Antoni March, commanded attention yesterday at a conference organized by the Club of Rome Spanish Division Balearic Group. He urged attendees to reflect on a world drifting toward violence and insecurity as nations vie for control.
“Nothing Is Absolutely Broken.” He underscored, again and again, that the moment this path is followed, catastrophe follows. The author of Momentum, a book that peers into tomorrow with the help of artificial intelligence, argues that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine through negotiation and diplomacy is urgent because no other option benefits Europe.
The March conference drew a crowd that included influential figures such as Carmen Planas, president of the CAEB employers’ association. The event, chaired by José Francisco Conrado, coordinator of the Balearic Group of the Club of Rome, and with remarks from former rector Llorenç Huguet, took place at CaixaForum in Palma.
“The Age of Intelligence”
March observed that the world had not always been a cash register of power. Within a century, the writing on the wall points to a dramatically different landscape: a largely literate society with a rising share of university-educated youth. The former ambassador cited the United States as an example, shifting from an agricultural base to an industrial, digital, and service-oriented economy after its 1787 constitution, now home to over a hundred million people. This shift marks a transition from past norms to a modern, highly connected society.
Such changes signal a profound transformation across sectors, with mobility standing out as a key arena. The speaker described humanity entering an “age of intelligence.” This moment carries immense importance for the planet, even as progress has left the world feeling less secure: during World War II, only two countries possessed atomic bombs; today nine have them and four additional states are pursuing them. He highlighted this as one of the central challenges of the 21st century.
March reflected on the size of contemporary militaries—China, India, the United States—and noted that many countries still outpace historical expectations. A chart on arms spending showed Russia’s growing military presence, a trend he reluctantly acknowledged, while recalling his own experience as Spain’s ambassador in Moscow from 2007 to 2011. He recalled a time when Russia showed a strong aspiration to be part of Europe, an aim Putin himself seemed to express near the turn of the century, though relations later deteriorated.
Losing Russia as a partner, March warned, would be catastrophic for Europe. It would mean relinquishing a market of about 150 million people with substantial potential. He stressed that the idea of a simple binary win-lose outcome in the war is a mistake and urged a shift toward a new European order that prioritizes diplomacy, peace, and a pragmatic integration of both Russia and Ukraine. The urgency, he said, lies in pursuing a path where neither side is declared a definitive victor.
Occupied Territories
The public pressed for a practical path forward regarding territories with shared interests, such as Crimea. March proposed a European framework that engages all parties, preserves stability and security, and respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He suggested that sovereignty over Donbass could be reexamined within a broader European settlement that demonstrates the viability of peaceful coexistence rather than conquest. He emphasized that any solution would reflect a Europe that has outgrown old antagonisms and embraces a cooperative future, where leadership is measured not by victory in battle but by lasting stability for all.