Michael McFaul, Professor in International Studies in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University; U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2012-2014

Appeasement doesn't work. Never has worked in the past. It will not work in this case. And if Mr. Trump starts to signal that he is weakening our commitment to Ukraine and that he is, for instance, not merely new military assistance, that, in my view, will embolden people in Russia. Tragically, I`ve spent time with Mr. Putin. I used to know him to deal with them. And he does not strike me as a kind of person that if he thinks his enemy is getting weaker, that that will be the moment that he`ll sue for peace. I think it`s exactly the opposite. If we signal that we`re going to be less supportive of Ukraine, that will embolden Putin. And I think that would be a tragic mistake.

I think it is a necessary condition for peace in Europe that Ukraine is a member of NATO. That I think is in my country's interest. We need to convince Trump of that fact.

Vitaliy Portnikov: Ukrainian Publicist, Writer, and Journalist

To truly end the war, three conditions must be met.

First, Russian forces must be stopped, which requires Ukraine to have weapons and the capability to destroy Russian arsenals.

Second, Ukraine’s infrastructure must remain resilient. This is crucial as, both this year and in the years to come, Russia will make numerous attempts to completely destroy Ukraine's infrastructure, forcing its population to live in cold and darkness and encouraging emigration abroad.

Third, Russia must continue to spend money on the war while achieving nothing.

Each of these points leads to a clear conclusion: Ukraine's military and economy must be supported, while Russia’s economy and military must be hindered—partly by confronting China, which is the main sponsor of Moscow’s military efforts. Russia is essentially a proxy for China, akin to a “Hezbollah in the snow,” if you will.

If this policy is meticulously and professionally implemented, there is a chance that within the next decade, we can resolve this issue and return to a world where democracies prevail and regain their strength.

From a speech at the Kyiv International Economic Forum, November 7, 2024.

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