On The Morality of Negotiation
In the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Elon Musk was recently derided for his proposal for a negotiated end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (a conflict that has been going on for years, at least since the 2013 takeover of Crimea and subsequent fighting in the Donbas and other regions). What surprised me the most, was the vitriol from those who believe themselves to be the upholders of moral virtue because they reject negotiation outright, especially those willing to risk other lives instead of their own, risk a destabilized Europe and risk (albeit very slightly) global nuclear holocaust, while claiming to be on the side of civilian casualties and against the atrocities being committed. I’m pretty sure the collateral damage would be on the side of negotiating an end to the war, even if it means losing some territories.
If people want to fight to defend their borders or help others defend their borders, all glory and honor to them. They are heroes in this nationalistic world. (Though perhaps they do not know they are more likely being used as cannon fodder in a proxy war over security and economic concerns between Russia and NATO (including for the control of the oil/gas deposits in Ukraine, and Russia’s oil/gas industry), of which Ukraine is just a pawn, rather than in some noble showdown against a madman hell-bent on enslaving the world.) Negotiation is not for them, but for the innocents, those forced into the war (on both sides), those restricted from leaving, those who make up the collateral damage.
My message is for those who claim to be on the side of the innocents. If we were on their side as we claim to be, we would be pressuring our governments to reach out to Russia and Ukraine and negotiate a peace treaty. It really doesn’t matter if Russia is completely in the wrong and totally ought not to do what they did, or that they should be the ones to unilaterally stop, withdraw, and apologize profusely. This moral posturing we like to do is absolute nonsense when it comes to the amoral domain of power. Power does what power is able to do. It’s terrible that Russia invaded Ukraine, but that’s where we are now. The question then is, how to bring a speedy end to this conflict?
We can prolong the fighting with the hope that Russia gives up, but if Russia does not back down, Ukraine cannot win, and given that Ukraine’s geopolitical position makes it of existential concern for Russia, it is unlikely that Russia will completely back off. The longer the war goes, the worse the Ukrainian position will be, and the end result as Musk pointed out, will likely be the same, with Russia in control of the eastern territories and the rest of Ukraine joining the west, like Germany after WW2 (unless a negotiation for a neutral Ukraine is achieved).
If we truly wanted fewer human lives lost, we would support negotiation, dialogue, and compromise. This doesn’t make you pro-Russia, but pro-peace. If humanity is to survive in the long run, it will only be able to do so through negotiation. You cannot claim to be on the side of the innocents and be against negotiation outright. Negotiation is the seeking of a peaceful resolution. You might be on the side of nationalism, or a strategic play to get a better seat at the negotiation table in the future, or a proxy war to weaken your rivals, or what’s trendy on social media, but you’re not in this moment on the side of peace. Maybe you believe that Russia ought to be defeated at all costs, and if so, make that argument honestly and don’t hide it behind the cause of wanting to protect the innocents.
