Jeffrey Sachs: “I Am a Defender of Ukraine” — NATO Fights to the Last Ukrainian

Jeffrey Sachs’s Argument for Peace

Jeffrey Sachs argues that advocating peace is not anti-Ukraine. He says he supports an independent, sovereign, and secure Ukraine and wants to stop Ukrainians from being killed in a war he believes could have been avoided.

He describes the United States—and now European governments—as using Ukraine in a long-running geopolitical contest with Russia. In his account, U.S. strategists treated Ukraine as leverage against Moscow, while NATO expansion disregarded Russian security concerns and, for years, Ukrainian public opposition to joining the alliance. Sachs says he has supported Ukraine since its independence, including by advising President Leonid Kuchma on economic issues.

Debate and Diplomacy

Sachs and interviewer Glenn Diesen criticize what they see as a narrow Western narrative that equates supporting Ukraine with continuing the war. They argue that labeling Russia’s 2022 invasion “unprovoked” discourages discussion of earlier events and failed security arrangements, including NATO expansion, the 2014 upheaval in Ukraine, and the Minsk agreements.

Sachs recounts trying to publish a different account in The New York Times and says his article was ultimately withdrawn. He presents this as evidence that major Western media outlets restrict debate. Both speakers contend that limits on discussion also make diplomacy harder.

Sachs says Western governments have offered slogans rather than clear, public peace proposals. He criticizes European leaders for relying on U.S.-led diplomacy and argues that Europe has failed to act independently on a conflict that directly affects its security. He also warns that supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes,” without addressing the conditions for ending the war, risks prolonging the fighting and escalation.

Proposed Framework for Peace

Sachs’s proposed framework rests on the principle of indivisible security: security arrangements should account for the interests of Ukraine, Russia, and other European states. He outlines four central elements:

• No further NATO expansion, including to Ukraine or Georgia.
• A neutral Ukraine, while leaving open the possibility of joining the European Union if both Ukraine and the EU agree and neutrality is maintained.
• A ceasefire along the de facto line of control, with disputes over legal sovereignty deferred. Sachs suggests that future changes should be pursued diplomatically rather than by force.
• Pan-European standards and agreements addressing issues such as language rights and the treatment of minorities.

Sachs says territorial claims are unlikely to be resolved quickly, particularly those involving Crimea and regions claimed by Russia and Ukraine. He also refers to the 2022 Istanbul negotiations, saying the sides came close to an agreement before the United States and Britain opposed continuing it. He calls for renewed diplomacy and more substantive proposals to be made public.

Presenters and Contributors

• Glenn Diesen: Interviewer
• Jeffrey Sachs: Guest