Part 5/8:
Drawing from historical context, Sachs believes that numerous opportunities to de-escalate tensions between the West and Russia have been squandered. He referenced the Minsk agreements, designed to halt violence in Ukraine, which he characterized as legitimate and potentially effective compromises. Unfortunately, he argues, the U.S. and Ukraine's dismissal of these agreements displayed a lack of diplomatic commitment, exacerbating the conflict.
Sachs feels that had leaders like Angela Merkel taken a firmer stand, the geopolitical landscape could look vastly different today, potentially sparing countless lives and preventing large-scale destruction.