Ukraine - the moral case for ceding land for peace
Moral Maze
BBC
4.5 • 609 Ratings
🗓️ 26 January 2024
⏱️ 57 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s now nearly two years since Russia began its full scale invasion of Ukraine. Hopes that Ukraine might seize back its territory have been dashed, in a conflict that’s become deadlocked. At first it felt clear – the invasion is wrong, Putin must fail and be seen to fail, Ukraine’s defiance and bravery must be supported with everything its allies can provide. But as the death, destruction and bloodshed continues, with little sign of progress on either side, questions have been raised about how the war might ever be brought to an end.
How realistic is it for Ukraine to aspire to recapture all of its land, even Crimea? This year’s US presidential election has sharpened the focus: A Trump victory could threaten Ukraine’s future supply of arms. Some believe Russia would settle for the land it has already captured. If so, for Ukraine the bitter pill of ceding some 20% of its territory would at least bring the war to an end. But what’s the moral case for this? What’s the real value of peace – bought at the cost of justice? If western powers are seen to allow aggression to win the day in Ukraine, what message would that send to Vladimir Putin and other tyrants around the world? In Ukraine, what’s the moral case for ceding land for peace?
Presenter: Michael Buerk Producer: Jonathan Hallewell Assistant Producer: Linda Walker Editor: Tim Pemberton
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Good evening. The flat, fertile step that makes up most of |
| 0:08.4 | Ukraine has always been the cockpit of Europe, fought over invaded and oppressed by the competing |
| 0:13.5 | empires of the day. Its latest agonies are nothing new, but they provide a 21st century setting |
| 0:19.5 | for that age-old moral question, what price peace? |
| 0:23.8 | It's very nearly two years since Russia invaded. |
| 0:27.1 | It looks a military stalemate, with Niserside able to dislodge the other from positions now |
| 0:32.2 | heavily fortified. |
| 0:33.3 | The Americans estimate more than 200,000 combatants have been killed, millions of civilians displaced, and 50 billion dollars worth of damage done. |
| 0:44.4 | The Ukrainians may have right on their side, but some of their Western allies look flaky and could soon be led by President again Trump, who's called Putin a genius and his war savvy. |
| 0:56.1 | A command autocracy like Russia has obvious advantages in a long, drawn-out struggle. |
| 1:01.6 | So there are those who see a negotiated settlement now as the best pragmatic option, |
| 1:06.6 | as well as a humanitarian necessity. |
| 1:09.1 | But that settlement would almost certainly be based on the status quo, |
| 1:13.0 | leaving Russia in possession of a fifth of Ukraine's territory and people. |
| 1:17.8 | Many would see that as a victory for tyranny, a reward for aggression, |
| 1:22.1 | dangerous strategically, as well as morally unacceptable. |
| 1:26.1 | What price peace in Ukraine? |
| 1:28.4 | Moral maze tonight. |
| 1:29.6 | The panel, Mona Siddiqui, |
| 1:30.7 | Professor of Islamic and Inter-Religious Studies at Hedembury University, |
| 1:34.5 | Anne McElvoy from the Politico News and Commentary Organisation, |
| 1:38.1 | the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, Matthew Taylor, |
... |
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