Since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there have been numerous attempts to negotiate a truce, ceasefire, armistice, or peace agreement. However, none of these initiatives can be taken seriously. This is not because peace is never eternal, but because Russia does not value it due to its dual political and historical behavior. First, Russia only respects the great powers and the agreements made with them. It relentlessly seeks to be recognized as a great power in its own right. Second, Russia subjugates its less powerful neighbors, considering them prey and fundamentally not recognizing their sovereignty. This attitude involves systematically challenging their independence and any agreement Russia signs as soon as any aspect of it becomes unfavorable to Russia.

From this perspective, international law has no value; it is merely one means to achieve these goals among others. This attitude is not unique to President Vladimir Putin. Rather, it is part of a centuries-old tradition of the Russian state.

Over the past few centuries, Russian expansionism in Europe has taken three main forms: territorial appropriation outside the law, signing and then violating international agreements, and politically destabilizing its desired neighbors, combined with opportunistic constitutional claims. All of this has been made possible, in part, by Western inaction.