A plea for a fundamental rethink of Europe’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine.

Guestauthor: Steven Arrazola de Oñate 09/05/2025

Steven Arrazola de Oñate served his country in the Belgian army.
He was stationed in Kandahar (Afghanistan),
an experience about which he wrote his most recent book 'Once, I was a soldier'.

To commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, Russia organised a military parade in Moscow attended by several foreign heads of state. It was a charged moment, not only because of its historical significance – the battle cost 27 million Soviet lives – but also because of current geopolitical tensions.

The Kremlin hosted more than two dozen foreign leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Serbia is a candidate country for membership in the European Union, a process initiated by Armenia. The large turnout shows that the claim that Russia is internationally isolated does not match reality.

Dead end

As a former officer and military expert, I advocate a fundamental rethinking of Europe’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine. Russia will always be a neighbor, as Germany was after 1945. Back then, we chose reconciliation and cooperation, which led to decades of peace and prosperity. Why should we take a different path now? Diplomacy, not escalation, is the key to a stable and prosperous future for Europe and the world.

Western sanctions against Russia have not had the desired effect. Instead of weakening Russia, European citizens are feeling the pain: energy prices are sky-high, while the US uses energy six times cheaper. Russia is finding alternative markets, supported by countries like China, which unconditionally supports Moscow.

Europe’s ongoing confrontation with Russia is making us irrelevant and poorer

Yet we see no sanctions against China, nor are Chinese products ridiculed in our media. Why? Because we depend on their goods, just as we depend on Russian raw materials. This ambiguity exposes the hypocrisy of current policy. We are shooting ourselves in the foot, while countries like the US are profiting, for example through mineral deals with Ukraine that will bring financial gain to President Trump.

Europe’s ongoing confrontation with Russia is making us irrelevant and poorer. While Trump is brokering a ceasefire, the EU continues to make noise and provoke Putin. This is not only counterproductive, it is also dangerous. The recent call by the new German Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, to allow Ukraine to attack Russian targets – possibly with German weapons – is particularly worrying. Germany, which was a model of restraint after 1945, is now belligerent. This is painful and ironic, given history. Who wins from war? No one. Peace is cheaper, safer and more sustainable.

A call for peace

Fortunately, resistance to this war narrative is growing among Europeans. Elections show a shift: in Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is gaining ground and is even the largest party in polls. In Romania, we have recently seen a similar trend. People are tired of the manipulation and are demanding realism.

Nevertheless, some European leaders are trying to marginalize or even ban these common-sense parties, as is now being considered in Germany with the AfD. This is a dangerous undermining of democracy. History teaches us that suppressing legitimate voices leads to extreme reactions. About 90 years ago, we saw where such a mentality can lead. Do we want to repeat that mistake?

Better a good neighbor than a distant friend

The press has a great responsibility, but unfortunately many journalists and opinion makers reinforce the war narrative instead of advocating de-escalation. I call on everyone – citizens, journalists, politicians – to demand peace. The more pressure we exert, the harder it becomes to sustain war. We must restore trade relations and work on mutual respect. Russia will always be our neighbor, and as the proverb says: ‘Better a good neighbor than a distant friend.’

Diplomacy as the only way forward

The May 9 parade was an opportunity to reflect on the cost of war and the value of peace. The presence of world leaders in Moscow, despite Western pressure, shows that diplomacy is possible. China, India and other states maintain relations with Russia without harming their own interests. Why can’t Europe do the same? After World War II, we built bridges with Germany, which led to the EU and unprecedented prosperity. A similar approach with Russia – focused on dialogue, trade and mutual understanding – is essential.

Putin will be replaced one day, but Russia remains

Putin will be replaced one day, but Russia remains. An ongoing dispute between neighbors harms both parties. Let us focus on de-escalation and cooperation, as we did 80 years ago. That is not only in the interest of Europe and Belgium, but of the entire world. The time for diplomacy is now.

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Dit artikel in het Nederlands: Leren van 1945: kies vrede