Do you agree with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that it is unrealistic to expect Ukraine to return to its pre-2014 borders?
Last Updated: 01.07.2025 06:10
At the Munich Security Conference, the U.S. chief of defence Hegseth announced that Ukraine's return to pre-2014 borders would be “unrealistic” and would only “prolong war.”
If Ukraine shouldn’t strive to reclaim its 1991 internationally recognized borders, then probably it should strive for its 1918 borders, which were even larger, including several regions that are now part of Russia.
There are internationally recognised borders of Ukraine, since 1991.
And force genocidal invaders like Russia respect the international laws.
Or: we should all decide to live in the world order where the borders are set.
There were 1994 U.S. assurances to defend Ukrainian territorial integrity, in exchange to Ukraine giving up its world’s 3rd largest nuclear arsenal.
Putin signed the border treaty in January 2003 (and ratified it in April 2004), which Russia is now in breach, after announcing 5 regions of Ukraine “annexed”.
And Ukraine then can decide at any time — when they are ready — to pursue that.
There is also a Ukrane-Russia border treaty of 2003, signed by Vladimir Putin himself.
First, there is no need to talk about “pre-2014 borders.”
Like, if the borders are fluid and any country can just disregard the international laws and simply grab what they can, then why shouldn’t Ukraine strive for that?