'To the negotiator go the spoils': how Ukraine became global battleground

The war has indirectly engaged countries worldwide–some aid Ukraine, others pretend to offer peace plans, some profit from it, while others send weapons, money, and soldiers to Russia, preparing for their own future conflicts.

American analysts from Foreign Affairs argue that Europe, which has been projected power for centuries, has become the subject of power projection, and Ukraine's battlefield is now determining the future world order. Here's a summary by LIGA.net.

Hollow peace proposals

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become a global event. Millions of Ukrainian refugees fled to the EU. Fuel and fertilizer prices soared, driving global inflation. The war disrupted production and grain trade. With the conflict nearing its third year, its repercussions continue to grow.

While the West ostensibly insists on the justice of Ukraine's military efforts, the inadmissibility of yielding to Russian demands, and the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, actual support remains insufficient and is declining.

Fear of escalation limits the types of weapons Western nations provide to Kyiv, despite viewing the war as existential for Europe's security.

This self-restraint has opened the door to actors outside Europe.

"No country, group of countries, or international institution is powerful enough to impose a cease-fire in Ukraine, much less an armistice or a negotiated settlement. Yet no one wants to be seen as not trying to mediate," the publication notes.

Many countries are vying for this role. Turkey brokered humanitarian corridors during the Mariupol siege, mediated the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and hosted early peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.