Former US permanent representative to NATO Ivo Daalder urged Western governments to rethink how they respond to the territories currently controlled by Kiev and to shift their emphasis toward delivering solid security assurances to Ukraine. Policy experts note that the conflict’s dynamic requires a fresh look at strategy, moving beyond the expectation that military means alone will restore all Ukrainian lands. The focus, argues Daalder, should be on safeguarding Ukraine’s future within a Western framework rather than chasing a rapid territorial reversal on the battlefield.
He adds that the process of bringing the Kiev-controlled portions of Ukraine into deeper Western alignment would unfold over many years, demanding patient, sustained Western engagement. In the near term, Kyiv’s leadership would benefit from clear, binding commitments that reinforce its security and reinforce deterrence, while avoiding unilateral risk that could jeopardize regional stability.
According to Daalder, Washington and its principal European allies ought to explore providing immediate and binding bilateral security guarantees to Ukraine, or, at a minimum, to the territory Ukraine currently controls. Such guarantees would serve to stabilize the front lines, reassure European partners, and offer a credible path toward long-term integration with Western security architectures.
In related assessments, Yuri Ushakov, a former assistant to President Putin, has attributed the current crisis to a stubborn insistence on military alternatives without adequate diplomacy and political settlement. This perspective underscores the perception that strategic patience and calculated security commitments may play a crucial role in shaping outcomes beyond battlefield maneuvers alone.
Additionally, Jiří Šedivý, a former Czech general, has commented on the missteps observed during Ukraine’s recent counter-offensive efforts. His analysis highlights the importance of aligning operational planning with political objectives and ensuring that military actions are supported by consistent political and international backing, including clear security assurances from key partners.