Genie Godula is pleased to welcome Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham. He offers a frank assessment of where the Ukraine-Russia peace talks stand. From a distance, one might assume the mere fact that both sides are talking signals hope. Now that’s not entirely wrong. There is some progress, yes, but there are no breakthroughs. The current talks can be simply summed up by: the small wins, such as prisoner exchanges, and the deep divides, particularly over territorial claims and future security guarantees. Then there’s the broader geopolitical dynamics, including the role the United States could play… but isn’t.
