Part 6/9:
Should Ukraine be pressured into accepting a peace deal without solid security guarantees, it would face daunting challenges. Kyiv might confront the need to reduce its military size, consequently rendering itself vulnerable to renewed Russian incursions. Additionally, the absence of significant Western security support may propel Ukraine into a position where it has to reconceptualize its relationship with Moscow.
A lack of robust political and military backing would halt Ukraine’s ability to thrive and integrate with the West, as any semblance of independence would erode. The precarious nature of Ukrainian political legitimacy could be exacerbated by difficult decisions regarding the status of occupied territories, thereby deepening internal divisions.