Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin (©Getty via Kyodo)
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February 24 marks the third anniversary of the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to enter into ceasefire negotiations.
The two leaders are expected to meet face-to-face in Saudi Arabia in the near future. Diplomatic efforts are now underway to end Europe's biggest war since World War II. However, there is a risk that Trump's negotiations with Russia will be conducted over Ukraine's head, pushing Kyiv to make significant concessions.
It is Putin who has violated the United Nations Charter and is trampling on the territory of a neighboring country. Moreover, he has done so solely through his own ambition and power. The starting point for these negotiations must be to strongly demand the withdrawal of Russian troops from territories it has occupied in Ukraine.
Don't Give Putin Opportunity for More Invasions
Trump has indicated he thinks it unlikely Ukraine will regain any of its pre-2014 territories that Russia subsequently unilaterally annexed. Among these is the Crimea Peninsula in the south of the country. In the minds of Ukrainians, who have rallied together to defend their homeland, Russia's invasion actually began in 2014. Leaving these territories out belittles Ukraine's decade of resistance to Russia's invasion.
President Trump has also suggested that Ukraine's ambition to become a NATO member may be unrealistic. However, such a conciliatory attitude that appeases Russia, and does not question Putin's crimes, cannot resolve this conflict.
Putin has urged Trump to "eliminate the root causes" of the war. Indeed, the true intention of the Russian dictator is to make Ukraine abandon its desire to pursue peace and prosperity as a member of the democratic community. Instead, Putin would turn it into a vassal state of Russia. Agreeing to a hasty ceasefire agreement with Putin, who seeks a de facto surrender, could be a green light for his next invasion.
Reaching an Acceptable Deal
The deal President Trump should pursue should not involve threatening to suspend military aid to force Ukraine to cede territory. Instead, it should be a deal to fend off Putin's unreasonable demands and respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Any compromise that would force Ukraine to relinquish sovereignty over territory that Russia continues to occupy would be unacceptable.
Guaranteeing security for Ukraine is the top priority for deterring Putin from invading it again. It will be Europe's responsibility to provide the peacekeeping forces to prevent that from happening.
China and North Korea, which support Russia, are also closely watching the outcome of the negotiations. If we allow the use of force to change the status quo, the international order based on the rule of law will crumble and China will grow increasingly ambitious to annex Taiwan.
Japan should become involved in the ceasefire question as it is directly linked to our own national security.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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