On December 4, 2025, at the OSCEs annual Ministerial Council in Vienna, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha delivered a stirring appeal: "We need real peace, not appeasement."
Evoking the 1938 Munich Agreement, Sybiha warned: "We still remember the names of those who betrayed future generations in Munich. This should never be repeated again. Principles must be untouchable."
He thanked the United States for advancing peace efforts and pledged that Ukraine would use every opportunity to try to end this war. Yet the road ahead remains uncertain after high-level talks between Russia and the United States on December 2 ended without a breakthrough.
The original 28-point peace plan proposed by Washington was criticized as overly favorable to Russia. Representatives in Geneva on November 23 trimmed it to 19 points, but Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly rejected European amendments on December 3 as "unacceptable."
Territorial disputes loom large. As Putin put it on December 3, "Either we liberate these territories by force of arms or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories and stop fighting there."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on December 3 that his team is preparing for further meetings in the United States and that dialogue with Trumps representatives will continue.
On the ground, conflict rages. Late on December 4, Ukraines military reported striking the Nevinnomyssky Azot chemical plant in Russias Stavropol region, triggering a major fire. There was no immediate reaction from Russian officials.
Russia has also intensified attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Naftogaz said Khersons heat and power plant was almost completely destroyed, while DTEK reported an overnight strike in Odesa left 51,800 households without power.
With diplomatic channels open but consensus elusive, Ukraines call for "real peace, not appeasement" underscores the challenge of securing lasting stability in Europe without repeating past mistakes.
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Ukraine says it wants 'real peace, not appeasement' with Russia
cgtn.com
