As the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year, the calculus of peace appears increasingly dictated not by battlefield realities or the will of the people, but by shifting geopolitical priorities. The recent declaration from the United States that it may “move on” from peace negotiations within days if there is no tangible progress marks a striking shift in tone. It underscores a sobering truth: even the world’s most powerful patrons have limits to their patience, especially when their strategic interests begin to diverge from the burdens of open-ended conflicts.

Ukraine’s hopes have long rested on international support ~ not only in weapons and aid but in diplomatic backing. The overt push to broker a ceasefire with Russia, however, now seems to be shadowed by deeper, transactional interests. The simultaneous move towards a........

© The Statesman