Demonstrators march in Washington, DC, on February 21, calling for support for Ukraine. (©Kyodo)
Tuesday, February 24, marked the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Peace talks mediated by United States President Donald Trump have intensified over the past year. However, they have yet to produce any concrete results. Japan, European countries, and other free democracies must also back the negotiations if they are to achieve a just and lasting peace.
Security guarantees are the fundamental condition for true peace. That is the only way to maintain Ukraine's sovereignty and prevent another post-ceasefire reinvasion.
Ending the war in a way that rewards Russia could provoke further aggression in East Asia. With this in mind, Japan should continue supporting a just peace for Ukraine.
Russia Must End Its Despicable Attacks
Russia has stepped up missile and drone attacks targeting Ukrainian energy facilities since last autumn. As a result, Ukraine now suffers from a serious power shortage. It is heartbreaking to see Ukrainians forced to endure harsh winters without heat. Temperatures drop below zero, from -15 °C to -20 °C, and electricity is only available for a few hours a day.
What is more, Russian attacks on civilian facilities such as homes and hospitals also continue. According to United Nations agencies, 15,000 civilians have been killed and more than 41,000 injured in Ukraine. Furthermore, millions have been displaced.
Russia must immediately end its attacks targeting civilians that violate international humanitarian law (the laws of war).
No matter how many reprehensible attacks he may have launched, Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve any of his stated goals in his war of aggression. He cannot even achieve his minimum goal of taking control of the entire eastern Donbas region (Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts).
In fact, in 2025, despite suffering more than 1,100 casualties per day, Russian forces were able to occupy less than an additional 1% of Ukrainian territory.
Getting to a Fair Peace
Peace negotiations led by the Trump administration are taking place against this backdrop. Meanwhile, the Putin regime demands the cession of all of the Donbas region. It also insists that Ukrainian forces totally withdraw from Donetsk Oblast. However, Ukraine still controls more than 20% of that territory.
There is absolutely no reason for Ukraine to make such concessions. Russia should not get territory through negotiations that it has been unable to seize through military force.
First and foremost, a ceasefire that would hand sovereignty over Ukrainian territory to Russia would leave a huge legacy of harm for future generations. It would allow the status quo to be changed by force.
Such a course of action is absolutely unacceptable.
The Putin regime also maintains its stance that "peace requires eliminating the root causes of conflict." That shows that it has not abandoned its plot to turn Ukraine into a puppet state.
A tenuous ceasefire that could lead to renewed Russian aggression is unacceptable. Absolutely, security guarantees for Ukraine must be firmly established. Increasing pressure on Russia is essential for persuading Putin to change his position.
Russia's wartime economy has begun to slow down as countries tighten sanctions on Moscow. Its fragility will only become more pronounced in the days to come. There is still much for the US, Europe, and Japan to do, including expanding sanctions on "shadow fleet" tankers smuggling Russian crude oil.
Increase the Pressure on Moscow
When Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula in southern Ukraine in 2014, the United States, Europe, and Japan responded weakly. They merely imposed limited sanctions on Russia. The lesson from that failure must not be forgotten. It decisively emboldened Russia and led to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Any expectations within the Trump administration for future business with Russia should be firmly rejected. After all, this is the same Russia that continues abducting children from occupied territories and seeking to brainwash residents in those territories to idolize Russia. Russia's actions are crimes against humanity. An indulgent attitude that ignores these problems cannot be tolerated.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has adopted an admiral position on Ukraine. In her February 20 policy speech, she said, "It is important to bring an early end to Russia's aggression in Ukraine." She also emphasized, "We will support Ukraine together with like-minded countries, while respecting Ukraine's wishes to the greatest extent possible."
Protecting Regional Stability
The countries most interested in the outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are China and North Korea. Both of them are providing active support to Russia. This also must not be forgotten.
Japan's decision to join the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative is particularly important in this regard. PURL is a framework under which NATO purchases US-made weapons to provide them to Ukraine. Additionally, the Takaichi administration should continue to work with local governments on supporting refugees from Ukraine who are staying in Japan.
Discord between the US and Europe over Trump's tariff policies and actions is also quite evident. That is why the international community looks to Japan to play its role in bridging the gap between the two.
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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun:
