Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed the opinion that there was a chance to conclude a peace agreement with Russia at the end of 2022, but the emotional uplift in Ukrainian society prevented this. According to him, at that time, there was an atmosphere of euphoria in Ukraine, linked to the hope of restoring the borders of 1991.
Emotional Context of 2022
Kuleba noted that society was filled with optimism, as Ukrainians believed they could "reverse 300 years of our history" and punish the aggressor. This, in his view, complicated the possibility of negotiating peace.
Military Situation and Recommendations
In the opinion of the former minister, the military situation on the front began to change in favor of the enemy from the end of 2022. He emphasized that despite the theoretical possibility of concluding an agreement in September or October 2022, he doubts that anything would have come of it.
- Fall 2022: Ukraine liberates part of the Kharkiv region and the right bank of the Kherson region.
- Kuleba agrees that there was a chance for peace negotiations at that time.
- General Mark Milley also advised Ukraine to conclude an agreement at the end of 2022, considering it the best moment for reaching a compromise.
Kuleba's Conclusions
Kuleba concluded that while the possibility of concluding an agreement indeed existed, the emotional context and military circumstances complicated the realization of this scenario. He believes that even if negotiations had taken place, the outcome would likely not have been positive for Ukraine.