A ceasefire alone won’t be enough to secure lasting peace in Ukraine—especially if it locks in injustice or sets the stage for future conflict. That was the stark warning from Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, in an interview with RBC, as he cautioned against accepting what he called a “flawed peace.”
The danger of a frozen conflict
“Achieving a complete ceasefire along a front line as extensive as Ukraine’s is an extremely complex challenge, influenced by numerous factors,” Admiral Dragone said.
While he stressed that NATO’s ultimate goal remains a full cessation of hostilities and a “just, lasting peace,” he warned that settling for a quick fix could backfire. “A flawed peace can be worse than no peace at all,” he said, adding that a frozen conflict would be the worst-case scenario.
His comments echo growing concerns that a ceasefire without real resolution could leave Ukraine vulnerable and empower Russia to regroup or solidify its hold on occupied territories.
Diplomatic push amid cautious optimism
Dragone’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic momentum. Multiple rounds of negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and Russia took place this March in Saudi Arabia, structured as indirect talks in a “shuttle diplomacy” format.
Though no formal settlement has yet been reached, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that a 30-day ceasefire agreement specific to the Black Sea—along with a mutual ban on strikes against each other’s energy infrastructure—came into effect on Tuesday, March 25. The ceasefire was reportedly brokered with US involvement.
A balancing act between peace and principle
Western leaders have long debated the risks of negotiating peace with a country actively violating international law. Critics argue that any deal perceived as legitimizing Russian territorial gains could set a dangerous precedent and destabilize the region long-term.
Dragone’s warning appears aimed at reinforcing that position. For NATO, the key objective remains not just halting violence but ensuring that peace is fair, sustainable, and does not leave Ukraine compromised.
