What Moscow fears isn’t a Ukraine in NATO, as evidenced for example, by its total non-reaction to President Zelenskyi’s announcement at the end of March 2022 that he accepted neutrality for Ukraine as part of a peace agreement with Russia. What it fears is a democratic and truly sovereign Ukraine. The outcome of the war is yet to be seen, but Putin has lost the Ukrainians for good.
Russian authorities have raided the homes and offices of human rights advocates and historians with the prominent rights group Memorial which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.
Russian soldiers' misogynistic violence in Ukraine shows there's a "civilisational clash" going on in Europe, Nobel-winning Ukrainian activist Oleksandra Matviichuk has said.
While the war is continuing in Ukraine, it is important for us to prepare for peace and ensure the foundations for peace-building are in place, writes Felicity Harrison.