Jeremy Corbyn and Elon Musk might seem strange bedfellows, but both advocate for a negotiated peace to the war in Ukraine. Are they right? Or must Putin’s invasion be repelled at any cost?
Support for the policy of arming Ukraine remains hugely popular. Zelensky is a hero to millions and has become an icon, while many of us in the UK wear the Ukrainian flag with pride. But dissenting voices from across the political spectrum question whether a Ukrainian victory is truly possible, or whether a compromise with Putin is the only way to end the multiple global crises, from surging inflation to the energy emergency, and to bring back the world from the brink of nuclear war.
Are they right to seek an end to the conflict? Or is the very idea a betrayal of the ideals of liberal democracy – a weakening of resolve that will serve the interests of dictators and tyrants, signalling a retreat of Western power with serious consequences from the Baltics to Taiwan?
Proposition:
Peter Hitchens, 71, is a journalist and broadcaster who currently writes a weekly column for the London Mail on Sunday. He has worked in Fleet Street for 45 years, as a specialist in politics, labour affairs, defence and diplomacy and education, as a foreign reporter and as a commentator. He was a resident correspondent in Moscow (1990-92) and Washington (1993-95) and has reported from 57 countries, some of which no longer exist. His latest book, on the destruction of Britain’s grammar schools, will be published on November 24.
Mary Dejevsky is a leading British commentator on international affairs in general and Russia in particular. She writes a weekly column for The Independent of London and contributes regularly to many other UK and international publications. She was Moscow correspondent for The Times during the collapse of the Soviet Union, before moving to The Independent as comment editor, then correspondent in Paris and Washington. She was a member of the Valdai Group of Russia specialists, a past honorary research fellow at the University of Buckingham and sits on the advisory board of the School of Slavonic and East European Studies at University College London.
Opposition:
Svitlana Morenets was a freelance journalist in Kyiv, covering the consequences of the Russian invasion. She hitchhiked in annexed Crimea to learn more about life under occupation and published a story about her experience in 2019. Now Svitlana works at the Spectator, writing about Russia’s war in Ukraine. She is the author of the Ukraine in Focus weekly newsletter.
Edward Lucas is a Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).He was formerly a senior editor at The Economist. Lucas has covered Central and Eastern European affairs since 1986, writing, broadcasting, and speaking on the politics, economics, and security of the region. A graduate of the London School of Economics and long-serving foreign correspondent in Berlin, Vienna, Moscow, and the Baltic states, he is an internationally recognized expert on espionage, subversion, the use and abuse of history, energy security and information warfare.
Moderator:
Nathan Hodge is a senior editor with CNN in London. A Ukrainian and Russian speaker, he has served as CNN’s editorial lead both from Moscow and from Ukraine following the Feb. 24 invasion. He joined CNN from The Wall Street Journal, where he was Moscow bureau chief and Kabul bureau chief. He is the author of Armed Humanitarians, a book about the American experience in nation-building, and is also co-author of a Nuclear Family Vacation, a travelogue about nuclear weaponry.
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Peter Hitchens is extremely dodgy as ever…
Too many still do not think that war is a tragedy
especially if it is far away. We have always loved to have an "Evil" to transform our own subconscious evil into!20:25 replace we could bring peace with i am with putin and I want him to win and destroy ukraine. She's criminally idiotic
Mary is the most realistic and the making sense of the situation person in this debate
The Ukrainian young woman is not so convincing when she refer to one man (Putin )v Ukrainians she should speak of the Russian people v Ukrainians. Her stand logically by the same token might allow the Russians to also refer Zelenski ‘ and his actions against the Russians(?)
What Svetlana said about the Russians not protesting: could that really mean that they don’t like this separation? May be that is their will? Why? The western countries do not get it that a change must occur at the pace and from within the context and the culture of the countries themselves and by their own brand of democracy.
Democracy cannot be forced from without.
Yes it is time to make peace just after Russia has withdrawn from Ukrain.
I find it difficult to think when I listen to an "allegedly intelligent person; Peter Hitchens" talking out of his arse.
He clearly has no understanding of why this war started, is continuing or how and when it will finish. After 4 minutes 45 seconds my brain is hurting listening to such drivel.
Go tell Putin to make peace by going home!
Leaders like Putin can not be appeased, their existence and survival depend on creating an enemy,
Any peace would be short lived. The other factor are other states like Iran, China and NK. Appeasement sends a green light, if there is no will or fear in the west they can pretty much do as they will. Sorry to say the lady on the left is deluded.
Peter Hitchens is brilliant. Few people are aware that Russia’s invasion was a direct result of NATO expansion (forced through by the US) over 15 years, something Russia consistently warned the West about. US and British imperialism and hatred/ignorance/distrust of Russia is behind the war. Western arms manufacturers and warmongers are the only ones benefitting.
How many times will Russia turn the other cheek, there are Ukrainian Americans who aren't Slav's and will sacrifice the last Ukranian to weaken Russia enough to chop off the bears head, Germany will follow, Ukraine is the bear trap and Trojon Horse.
Are we at the end of the beginning ?
Cannot believe the audience voted for more deaths and potential nuclear annihilation. What times we live in.
There was peace between Ukraine and Russia from 1990 until Washington got between them.
US/NATO has 800 Bases stationed all over the world and involved in illegal wars, coups, assasinations, regime changes for 80 years, it doesnt serve people, peace or freedom. human rights, press freedom. free speech, freedom of expression or a working or functioning democracy, not at home to its own people or anywhere else in the world..
shouldnt the chair actually be neutral, he really cant help himself.. End NATO serve peace.
the ucranian claims there have not been protests in europe. she defends ucranian nationilism ignoring russian speakers rights to speak their langue in ucraine and be terrorised and killed for the past 8 years by the far right and nazi and nato funded and armed ucranian facists serving us/natos war against russia and russian speaking people of ucrane and donbass. ucrane is nato puppet and facist undemocratic regime. truth facts information and diplomacy is key to peace not usukeunatoandcorruptucranianpuppet regime. the west spews lies, deceit political propaganda and no free press or free speech, just censorship and kill lists on anyone daring to report on and speak truth to power or report facts that contradict nato usuk warmongers and facist corrupt ucraine puppet regime. and fight to the last ucranian, zelunksu will be fine!, thise he sends to war dead, to the last ucranian for nato usuk!
It's always time to make peace in Ukraine!
All you have to do is ask Mr Putin is to give up his pointless war of aggression and see what happens next!
Why is it that Ukrainians hate Russians so much? It's easily detectable from the Ukrainian woman's arguments, which I also find to be grounded in nothing but false emotions. If she really sympathies with ordinary Ukrainians; why is she opposing negotiations?
Peter Hitchens is a cuck
We lost the great Hitchens 11 years ago
Peace is the best way of preventing a nuclear armagedon. We should encourage both sides to speak with each-other about peace. Even if they cannot agree now, this way they will at least identify the moments when there are terms both sides can agree with.
Peace is when the Ukraine gets it's borders back
Peter who ?
Peter is not relevant
SO IT IS OK FOR U.S. LEAD NATO TO ENCIRCLE RUSSIA AND PLACED BALLISTIC MISSILES POINTING AT RUSSIA. JAMES BAKER NOT ONE INCH. WE KEPT EXPANDING NATO EASTWARDS. WE BROKE OUR PROMISES AND NOW WE BLAME BLAMING PUTIN. HOW WILL WE LIKE IT IF CHINA AND RUSSIA ENCIRCLED THE U.S.A AND POINTED WEAPONS AT US?
❤❤ D
The picture is too dim and the volume is too small
Disgusting tankies.
Yep, what a brilliant idea to reward a mass murdering Russian psychopath conducting a genocidal campaign in the Ukraine, leveling cities, slaughtering innocent civilians, forcing millions from their homes, hurling the dead in mass graves or burning them in mobile crematoriums to hide war crimes, torturing and execute wprisoners of war, throwing thousand of domestic Russian protesters in prison, assassinating vocal critics with bullets, plutonium 210, Novichok, or pushing them out of windows and threatening nuclear war.
Herr Putin, after the 34,000 war crimes + lets's agree that the territory illegally conquered becomes part of Russia for a peace that lasts until you rebuild your military for the complete conquest of the Ukraine.
We know you are a man of honor, truth, justice, and decency.
Crimea will never be under the yoke of Ukraine, to entertain the idea is sheer folly.
The call for peace is understandable but it should also be remembered what is driving in the opposite direction. Peace is the greatest threat to our socio-economic system which is built on cooperative exploitation, backed by militarisation. That is why people working for peace and those exposing corrupt, unethical practices, e.g., Julian Assange et al, are marginalised or removed.
Interesting defence of appeasement from Hitchens.
Jeremy Corbyn wanted to disarm U.K. Nukes 🤦♂nuff said.
Ukraine has lost 80% of its forces according General Mc Gregor so these people are talking nonsense.
Hitchens = Sensible man.
Good stuff.
You invited a Ukrainian but why not a Russian speaking Ukrainian from the East and from the Donbas, they may have a slightly different view point. Does this woman speak for all Ukrainians? I don't think so.
Peter is the only guy who actually bothered to study the history , visit Ukraine and Russia, have been writing about it since 2014. I see all the armchair warriors wanting Ukraine to be whole as it should be but not giving a damn abt the Russian speaking Ukrainians in the East and crimea. Peter said it right. The U.S is laughing all the way to the bank. Eu suffers , Russia weakened while Ukrainians die. But no American death. Used the afghans in the 80s,now its the Ukrainians.
People love talking about the justness of war until the nukes start flying. Come to a sustainable settlement and allow the refugees to go home and rebuild.
Jesus. He looks like his brother. I thought he had resurected.
comment section stinks of vodka
'War Bad 'as Winston Churchill never said, a man who never missed the opportunity to send poor people to their deaths in order to defend his friends.