Why the Russia-Ukraine War Will Not End With a Deal.

For centuries, wars have been ended on paper. Treaties signed, ceasefires announced, accords celebrated. Each promises peace, or at least an end to the killing.

Most do not last.

The reason is not simply bad faith or diplomatic failure. It is structural. Peace agreements are usually political instruments designed to manage power in the moment, not to resolve the deeper forces that made war inevitable in the first place.

The Russia–Ukraine war fits this pattern with unusual clarity.

For years, the United States and European governments have positioned themselves as brokers of peace. Summits are convened, frameworks proposed, ceasefires floated. Yet there is little reason to believe that any agreement shaped through this process will endure. Not because diplomacy is irrelevant, but because the framework being applied misunderstands what kind of war this is.

This is not a misunderstanding between neighbors. It is not a conflict that began in 2014 or even 2022. It is an imperial war with a long historical memory, now being treated as a short-term geopolitical crisis.

A Conflict Older Than Its Headlines

A growing body of scholarship situates the Russian–Ukrainian war within centuries of imperial expansion. Historian Timothy Snyder has described the invasion as a colonial war, arguing that Russia treats Ukraine not as a sovereign nation but as territory to be reclaimed and reshaped. Other scholars, including Serhii Plokhy and Marcel H. Van Herpen, frame the conflict as an attempt at imperial revival, a bid to restore a sphere of influence lost after the Cold War.

Some go further. Svitlana Biedarieva has introduced the concept of ambicoloniality to describe Russia’s fixation on Ukraine as both subordinate and essential to its own identity. In this view, Ukraine is not merely a neighbor or former possession, but a place woven deeply into Russia’s sense of itself. That fixation has produced a recurring cycle of domination, denial, and violence.

The roots of this conflict stretch back centuries. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Muscovite elites began redefining Ukrainian history as Russian history to justify expansion. In the nineteenth century, Russian nationalism hardened this approach, often enforced through cultural suppression. In the Soviet era, the Holodomor famine demonstrated how mass suffering could be used to assert control. After the Soviet collapse, scholars such as Taras Kuzio and Paul D’Anieri describe an “uncivil divorce,” marked by Russia’s refusal to fully accept Ukrainian independence.

This history matters because imperial wars do not end easily. They are not resolved by ceasefire lines or security guarantees alone. They persist because identity, memory, and power remain unresolved.

The Limits of Outside Mediation

Most peace agreements are written by outsiders. Diplomats and envoys arrive with experience, legal frameworks, and political constraints shaped elsewhere. They negotiate leverage, incentives, and guarantees. What they rarely negotiate is legitimacy grounded in the conflict’s historical and cultural reality.

That gap is visible in how this war is discussed.

When President Vladimir Putin speaks, he frames the conflict in historical terms. His narrative is often selective and self-serving, but it draws on a long imperial tradition. Much of the West dismisses these speeches as propaganda and moves on. In doing so, they ignore the fact that history, distorted or not, is being used as a political weapon that resonates domestically.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, by contrast, speaks the language of survival: weapons, funding, security guarantees. For a country under attack, this is understandable. But this framing reinforces the idea that the war can be resolved primarily through material support.

Outside the region, the conflict has generated its own incentives. Defense industries expand. Political careers are shaped. Moral certainty is claimed even as complexity is avoided. The result is a crowded narrative space in which truth is difficult to separate from advantage.

In this environment, agreements shaped by political timing or external interests are unlikely to last. Not always because they are cynical, but because they are built for the moment rather than for the pressure that follows.

Peace Is Not the Absence of War

Part of the failure lies in how peace itself is understood.

Peace is often defined as the absence of violence, the quiet that follows fighting. But calm is not stability. Silence is not resolution. A pause is not peace.

War is a system. It has institutions, supply chains, narratives, and routines that persist even when fighting ebbs. Peace, by contrast, is usually treated as an event, something that happens once violence stops rather than something that must be built and maintained.

This imbalance is costly. Agreements halt fighting without dismantling the machinery that produced it. They rely on goodwill, political will, and continuity of leadership, all of which erode under stress. When pressure returns, societies fall back on what remains. More often than not, what remains are systems designed for conflict.

Toward a Different Framework

If the Russia–Ukraine war is to end in anything other than a frozen conflict, it will require a different approach.

Not a deal designed to save face. Not a ceasefire meant to buy time. Not a document optimized for political advantage.

What is required instead is an agreement that treats peace as a system rather than a moment. One that embeds neutrality, reconstruction, monitoring, and enforcement into a structure insulated from short-term politics. One that acknowledges history rather than attempting to bypass it.

Such a framework would rely on independent monitoring and collective accountability. It would include consequences that do not depend on electoral cycles or shifting alliances. Above all, it would recognize that peace, like war, does not sustain itself.

This would be unfamiliar territory. That is precisely why it may be necessary.

Every conventional approach has already been tried. Repeating them is unlikely to produce a different result.

Peace is not a concession granted by leaders or a prize awarded for endurance. It is infrastructure. Until it is built with the same seriousness as the systems that sustain war, the Russia–Ukraine conflict will remain unresolved, no matter how many documents are signed.

And the paper meant to end it will continue to fail under pressure.

What follows is not a proposal for a ceasefire, nor a framework for negotiations, nor a political deal designed to satisfy immediate pressures. It is a different kind of document.

The text below outlines a permanent peace agreement built on the assumption that peace, like war, must be structured, enforced, and maintained over time. It treats peace not as a moment or an aspiration, but as a system with legal force, independent monitoring, collective responsibility, and consequences for failure. It does not attempt to resolve history through rhetoric or erase unresolved claims through compromise. Instead, it seeks to prevent renewed violence by removing the political shortcuts, ambiguity, and selective enforcement that have undone so many past agreements.

This document is offered not as a final answer, but as an alternative starting point: a framework for thinking about peace as something that must be built deliberately, protected institutionally, and sustained beyond the interests of any single government or generation.

This Peace Agreement has been written by Lynn Scheid.

PERMANENT PEACE, NEUTRALITY, RECONSTRUCTION, AND COEXISTENCE AGREEMENT

Statement of Purpose and Permanence

This instrument constitutes a comprehensive Peace Agreement. It is not a ceasefire, cessation of hostilities arrangement, truce, armistice, de-escalation framework, or temporary measure.
This Agreement establishes a permanent legal and political framework intended to replace armed conflict with enforceable peace, neutrality, reconstruction, and coexistence.
The Parties and guarantor states acknowledge that peace under this Agreement requires continuous participation, mutual compromise, and sustained compliance with all obligations set forth herein.
The obligations contained in this Agreement apply in perpetuity and are not dependent upon political conditions, changes in government, or the temporary absence or reduction of violence.
No Party may suspend, reinterpret, or selectively apply this Agreement on the basis that hostilities have ceased, diminished, or changed in form.
Failure to act in good faith, refusal to implement agreed obligations, or deliberate obstruction of this Agreement shall constitute a breach of comparable gravity to the use or threat of force.

Preamble

The Parties,

Acknowledging the armed conflict between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and the profound human suffering, loss of life, displacement, economic damage, environmental harm, and long-term insecurity resulting therefrom;

Recognizing that continued or renewed violence would deepen these harms and undermine regional and international stability;

Affirming that a durable peace requires binding legal commitments, effective verification, enforceable consequences, and shared international responsibility, rather than temporary restraint or unilateral assurances;

Determined to establish Ukraine as a Permanent Neutral Peace Nation, aligned with no military bloc and protected through collective obligations under international law;

Recognizing that this Agreement is concluded without prejudice to unresolved legal positions concerning sovereignty, borders, territorial status, or pending legal claims;

Affirming respect for the principles of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and the inherent dignity of all civilians affected by the conflict;

Committed to permanent non-violence, peaceful coexistence, reconstruction, and the creation of conditions that prevent the recurrence of armed conflict;

Have agreed as follows.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Agreement means the Permanent Peace, Neutrality, Reconstruction, and Coexistence Agreement, including all Parts, Articles, and Annexes.
Parties means Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
Guarantor States means states or international institutions that have ratified or acceded to this Agreement and have assumed formal obligations to support, enforce, and guarantee its provisions.
Supporting States means states or international institutions that have provided political, military, financial, economic, or reconstruction support to a Party in connection with the conflict and have signed or acceded to this Agreement pursuant to Part 2.
Permanent Neutrality means the status of Ukraine as a non-aligned state under international law, prohibited from joining military alliances or hosting foreign offensive military forces, while retaining the right to armed self-defense.
Material Breach means any violation of the core obligations of this Agreement, including but not limited to the use of force, violation of neutrality, obstruction of monitoring, or refusal to comply with enforcement measures.
Line of Contact means the provisional line established under Article 15, based on the positions of forces at the agreed reference date and time, which does not constitute an international border.
Demilitarized Interface Zones means the non-combat areas established along the Line of Contact in which specified weapons and military activities are prohibited.
Monitoring Mission means the International Monitoring Mission established under Part 7 of this Agreement.
Entry Into Force means the moment at which this Agreement becomes legally binding in accordance with Article 51.

Part 1 Legal Status and Ratification

Introduction

This Part establishes the legal character, binding force, and domestic effect of the Agreement. Its purpose is to ensure that the commitments undertaken herein are not aspirational or political in nature, but constitute enforceable obligations under international and domestic law, prevailing over conflicting national measures and remaining effective irrespective of political change or circumstance.

Article 1 Nature of the Agreement

This Agreement constitutes a binding and enforceable international peace treaty governed by international law.
It establishes a permanent framework for peace, neutrality, non-violence, and coexistence between the Parties.
This Agreement replaces the use of force with legal, political, and institutional obligations.
This Agreement is not a ceasefire, truce, armistice, or transitional instrument and is not limited by time or circumstance.

Article 2 Ratification and Domestic Supremacy

Ukraine shall ratify this Agreement through the Verkhovna Rada in accordance with its constitutional procedures.
The Russian Federation shall ratify this Agreement through the Federal Assembly in accordance with its constitutional procedures.
Upon ratification, this Agreement shall be incorporated into domestic law by each Party and shall prevail over any conflicting national legislation.
Ukraine shall entrench permanent neutrality and the supremacy of this Agreement within its constitutional order.
Each Party shall adopt such laws, regulations, and administrative measures as are necessary to give full effect to this Agreement.

Article 3 International Registration and Adoption

This Agreement shall be registered with the United Nations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
Designated guarantor states and participating international institutions shall ratify, accede to, or formally adopt this Agreement, as applicable.
Guarantor states shall incorporate their obligations under this Agreement into domestic law to ensure implementation, enforceability, and continuity.
International institutions participating under this Agreement shall adopt internal measures necessary to carry out their assigned roles.

Part 2 Participation of Supporting States and Collective Responsibility

Introduction

This Part establishes that responsibility for peace under this Agreement is not limited to the principal Parties alone. Its purpose is to ensure that states and institutions whose support materially affects the conflict assume corresponding legal obligations, preventing indirect participation, selective responsibility, or the externalization of risk without accountability.

Article 4 Mandatory Participation of Supporting States

This Agreement shall be signed and ratified not only by the principal Parties but also by states and institutions that provide political, military, economic, or financial support to either Party in connection with the conflict.
Supporting states shall be identified through a formal declaration at the time of signature or accession and shall assume obligations under this Agreement as guarantor or supporting participants.
No state may claim the benefits of stability, reconstruction, or enforcement under this Agreement without accepting the corresponding responsibilities set forth herein.

Article 5 Obligations of Supporting States

Supporting states undertake to actively ensure that the Party they support complies with this Agreement.
Supporting states shall refrain from actions that enable, encourage, or excuse violations by the Party they support.
Supporting states shall cooperate with monitoring, enforcement, and corrective measures when violations occur.

Article 6 Shared Responsibility for Compliance

Where a Party commits a material breach of this Agreement, responsibility shall extend to supporting states that fail to oppose the breach or take reasonable measures to restore compliance.
Supporting states that demonstrably act to prevent, mitigate, or correct a breach shall not incur penalties.
Supporting states that continue support in the face of a verified breach shall be subject to the collective penalty mechanisms established under this Agreement.

Part 3 Permanent Renunciation of Force

Introduction

This Part establishes the unconditional and permanent rejection of force as a means of resolving disputes between the Parties. Its purpose is to eliminate both overt and indirect pathways to renewed conflict by prohibiting military action, destabilization, and proxy conduct, and by requiring active restraint against escalation in all forms.

Article 7 Renunciation of Military Force

The Parties permanently renounce the use or threat of force against one another.
This obligation applies to all forms of force, including direct military action, indirect action, proxy operations, covert activities, and hybrid methods.
The Parties shall not organize, support, finance, equip, or tolerate armed groups or actors operating against the other Party.
The Parties shall refrain from military postures, deployments, or activities that reasonably risk escalation or renewed hostilities.

Article 8 Prohibition of Destabilization

The Parties shall refrain from acts intended to destabilize the political, economic, or social order of the other Party or of Ukraine as a neutral state.
Prohibited acts include sabotage, cyber operations against civilian systems, interference with governance or elections, economic coercion, and coordinated information operations intended to incite violence or undermine constitutional order.
These prohibitions apply to actions conducted directly by state organs as well as through proxies, contractors, or affiliated entities.
Each Party shall take reasonable measures to prevent its territory, resources, or institutions from being used for prohibited destabilizing activities.

Article 9 Relationship to the Charter of the United Nations

Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as impairing the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense recognized under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, nor the obligations of the Parties under the Charter, provided that any exercise of such rights is consistent with the permanent neutrality, renunciation of force, and enforcement framework established by this Agreement.

Part 4 Permanent Neutrality of Ukraine

Introduction

This Part establishes Ukraine’s permanent neutrality as a foundational and enforceable condition of peace. Its purpose is to define neutrality in a manner that is legally precise, durable across circumstances, compatible with sovereign self-defense, and collectively upheld by the international community, while preventing its misuse as a tool of pressure, limitation, or interference.

Article 10 Status of Permanent Neutrality

Ukraine is established as a permanently neutral State under international law.
This status applies in times of peace, crisis, and armed conflict.
Ukraine shall not join military alliances or collective defense arrangements.
Ukraine shall not undertake international obligations requiring participation in armed conflict on behalf of other states.
Permanent neutrality shall not diminish Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, or legal personality.

Article 11 Armed Neutrality

Permanent neutrality does not require demilitarization.
Ukraine retains the right and responsibility to maintain armed forces sufficient to defend its territory, population, constitutional order, and neutral status.
Territorial defense forces, reserve formations, and civil defense systems are permitted throughout Ukraine.
Ukraine may develop and maintain defensive capabilities, including air, missile, drone, cyber, and counter-sabotage systems.
Ukraine may produce, acquire, and modernize defensive military equipment consistent with its neutral status.

Article 12 International Responsibility for Neutrality

The neutrality of Ukraine is recognized as a collective international responsibility.
All guarantor states and ratifying parties are obligated to respect, protect, and support Ukraine’s permanent neutrality.
Any violation or threat of violation of Ukraine’s neutrality constitutes a breach of this Agreement affecting all guarantors collectively.
No state may invoke Ukraine’s neutrality to justify interference in its internal affairs or to impose political or economic pressure.

Part 5 Collective Security Guarantees

Introduction

This Part establishes a collective security framework to uphold Ukraine’s independence and permanent neutrality through shared international responsibility. Its purpose is to deter violations of this Agreement, ensure predictable and coordinated responses to threats, and prevent selective enforcement or conditional guarantees that could undermine neutrality or stability.

Article 13 Collective Security Framework

Guarantor states collectively undertake to support the security, independence, and neutrality of Ukraine.
These guarantees apply to threats or acts of aggression, including military attack, cyber operations, aerial or missile attacks, maritime interference, covert action, and proxy activities.
Security guarantees are defensive in nature and are intended to deter violations and restore compliance with this Agreement.

Article 14 Response Mechanism

Verified violations of this Agreement shall trigger coordinated responses by guarantor states.
Such responses may include diplomatic measures, economic measures, and defensive assistance to Ukraine, in accordance with agreed procedures.
Responses shall be timely and proportionate to the nature of the violation.
The absence of response by a guarantor state does not suspend the obligations of other guarantors.

Article 15 Protection Against Abuse of Neutrality

Ukraine’s neutral status shall not be used as a basis to restrict its sovereignty or lawful international activity.
No guarantor state or Party may condition security support on political alignment or internal policy concessions.
Security guarantees shall be applied solely for the purpose of preserving peace and neutrality.

Part 6 Force Posture and Territorial Stabilization

Introduction

This Part establishes practical measures to stabilize the security environment on the ground and prevent the resumption of hostilities. Its purpose is to define temporary force arrangements that reduce risk, limit escalation, and create space for durable peace, without prejudging sovereignty, borders, or final territorial status.

Article 16 Provisional Line of Contact

A provisional Line of Contact shall be established based on the positions of forces at a mutually agreed date and time.
The Line of Contact is intended to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk of renewed hostilities.
The Line of Contact does not constitute an international border and does not determine sovereignty or territorial status.
The location of the Line of Contact shall be recorded, mapped, and deposited with the international monitoring mission.

Article 17 Demilitarized Interface Zones

Demilitarized interface zones shall be established along the Line of Contact.
Within these zones, the presence of heavy weapons and offensive military systems is prohibited.
Force limitations within the interface zones shall be defined in technical annexes to this Agreement.
Compliance with demilitarization requirements shall be subject to international verification.

Article 18 Non-Alteration by Force

No Party shall alter the Line of Contact through the use of force, coercion, or intimidation.
Attempts to change control through unmarked forces, proxy actors, or incremental military action are prohibited.
Any such action constitutes a material breach of this Agreement and shall be addressed in accordance with its enforcement provisions.

Part 7

Final Territorial Status Through Civil Self-Determination

Article 19

Determination of Final Territorial Status

The final territorial status of any territory subject to the Provisional Line of Contact shall be determined exclusively through a free, fair, and internationally supervised expression of the will of the permanent civilian population of that territory, in accordance with international law.
No process of self-determination under this Article shall take place unless and until the International Monitoring Mission certifies that all of the following conditions have been fully and verifiably satisfied: a. The complete withdrawal of all foreign military forces, personnel, weapons, and military equipment from the territory; b. The dissolution, disarmament, and removal of all proxy, irregular, or non-state armed formations; c. The voluntary, safe, and non-discriminatory return of displaced persons and refugees who wish to return; d. The restoration of civilian administration, public order, and the rule of law under neutral interim arrangements; e. The establishment of a neutral international security presence sufficient to ensure public safety and freedom from coercion.
The process of self-determination shall be administered by an independent international authority designated by the guarantor states, in coordination with the International Monitoring Mission.
Eligibility to participate in the vote shall be limited to individuals who were lawful permanent residents of the territory immediately prior to the outbreak of hostilities, as determined in accordance with transparent and objective procedures established by the international administering authority.
The vote shall be conducted by secret ballot and shall present clear and unambiguous options regarding affiliation with Ukraine or the Russian Federation. The process shall ensure freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and access to impartial information.
The International Monitoring Mission shall verify and certify that the conditions for a free and fair vote have been met and that the process complies with applicable international standards.
Upon certification, the outcome of the vote shall be final and legally binding upon the Parties and the guarantor states and shall be implemented without delay and in good faith.
Any attempt by a Party, guarantor state, supporting state, or affiliated entity to influence, coerce, manipulate, or interfere with the process of self-determination shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement.
Pending the completion of this process, the exercise of administrative or de facto control over the territory shall not constitute recognition of sovereignty and shall be without prejudice to the final determination made pursuant to this Article.

Part 8 Monitoring, Verification, and Enforcement

Introduction

This Part establishes a permanent, independent mechanism to verify compliance with this Agreement and to ensure that obligations are enforced on the basis of objective facts rather than unilateral assertions. Its purpose is to deter violations, provide legal certainty, and support timely response and dispute resolution through credible, transparent monitoring.

Article 20 International Monitoring Mission

A permanent international monitoring mission is hereby established.
The mission shall be led by a neutral non-NATO member of the European Union and include personnel from neutral and non-aligned states.
The mission shall have unrestricted access to designated areas, demilitarized zones, and other locations necessary to carry out its mandate.

Article 21 Mandate and Authority

The mission shall monitor compliance with this Agreement through observation, inspections, and verification activities.
The mission may conduct scheduled and no-notice inspections as required.
The mission may use technical means, including satellite imagery, aerial observation, and unmanned systems, in accordance with agreed procedures.
The mission shall report findings in a timely and transparent manner.

Article 22 Legal Effect of Findings

Verified findings of the monitoring mission shall constitute an authoritative basis for determining compliance with this Agreement.
Such findings shall be used to initiate enforcement, response, or dispute resolution mechanisms provided herein.
Obstruction of the mission or denial of access constitutes a violation of this Agreement.

Article 23 Legal Status, Privileges, and Immunities of the Monitoring Mission

The International Monitoring Mission shall possess international legal personality and such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the independent and effective performance of its mandate.
Personnel of the Mission shall enjoy freedom of movement, inviolability of official documents and communications, and protection from legal process in respect of acts performed in their official capacity.
The Parties shall facilitate the entry, residence, transit, and operation of the Mission, including exemption from taxation, customs duties, and administrative restrictions, in accordance with applicable international practice.
The detailed privileges and immunities applicable to the Mission shall be set forth in a status agreement consistent with this Article.

Part 9 Civilian, Infrastructure, and Environmental Protection

Introduction

This Part affirms the protection of civilians, essential infrastructure, and the natural environment as non-derogable obligations under this Agreement. Its purpose is to ensure that peace is reflected not only in the absence of hostilities, but in the sustained safety, dignity, and well-being of civilian life, and in the preservation of systems and environments essential to long-term recovery and stability.

Article 24 Civilian Protection

The Parties reaffirm the absolute prohibition of attacks against civilians.
All feasible measures shall be taken to protect civilian populations from harm, intimidation, and displacement.
Humanitarian corridors, medical evacuations, and humanitarian personnel shall be respected and protected at all times.
Acts intended to terrorize civilian populations or disrupt civilian life are prohibited.

Article 25 Critical Infrastructure Protection

Critical civilian infrastructure shall be permanently protected from attack, sabotage, or coercive disruption.
Protected infrastructure includes energy systems, water supply and sanitation, transport networks, medical facilities, educational institutions, and essential public services.
Critical sites shall be designated and recorded for monitoring and protection.
Parties shall facilitate access for repair, maintenance, and emergency response to prevent civilian harm.

Article 26 Environmental Protection

The use of methods or means of warfare that cause severe or long-term environmental damage is prohibited.
Parties shall take reasonable measures to prevent environmental harm arising from military or security activities.
Where environmental damage has occurred, Parties shall cooperate in assessment, remediation, and restoration efforts.
Environmental damage related to the conflict shall be documented for accountability and recovery purposes.

Part 10 Reconstruction and Economic Stabilization

Introduction

This Part establishes reconstruction and economic recovery as integral components of durable peace. Its purpose is to ensure that rebuilding efforts are collective, transparent, and conditioned on compliance with this Agreement, so that economic stabilization reinforces peace rather than creating incentives for renewed conflict or misuse of resources.

Article 27 International Reconstruction Responsibility

The reconstruction of Ukraine is recognized as an international responsibility essential to durable peace and regional stability.
European Union member states and other participating partners shall contribute to reconstruction efforts in proportion to their economic capacity.
Contributions may include financial support, technical assistance, materials, expertise, and institutional support.
Reconstruction priorities shall include housing, energy systems, transportation, healthcare, education, demining, and economic recovery.

Article 28 National Reconstruction Authority

An independent Ukrainian National Reconstruction Authority shall be established to coordinate reconstruction activities.
The Authority shall manage funds, oversee procurement, and ensure alignment with agreed reconstruction priorities.
The Authority shall operate under the supervision of an international board with audit and compliance responsibilities.
The Authority shall publish regular reports on progress, expenditures, and outcomes.

Article 29 Peace-Linked Financing

Access to reconstruction financing shall be linked to compliance with this Agreement.
Financial mechanisms may include grants, concessional loans, guarantees, and risk insurance instruments.
In cases of verified non-compliance, financing may be suspended, adjusted, or redirected in accordance with agreed procedures.
Financing arrangements shall be structured to promote long-term economic stability and resilience.

Article 30 Peace Compliance Fund

A Peace Compliance Fund is hereby established as a mutual financial assurance mechanism designed to reinforce adherence to this Agreement through shared and accumulating economic risk.
Within ninety days of the Entry Into Force of this Agreement, Ukraine and the Russian Federation shall each deposit an equal sum of one hundred billion United States dollars into the Peace Compliance Fund.
The Fund shall be held in escrow at a neutral international financial institution located in a neutral jurisdiction, designated by the guarantor states, and legally protected from unilateral access, seizure, attachment, or political interference.
Funds deposited under this Article shall be invested solely in low-risk, internationally recognized instruments appropriate for sovereign escrow holdings. The principal shall remain locked and inaccessible to the Parties for a period of ten years from the Entry Into Force of this Agreement.
All interest, yield, or financial returns generated by the Peace Compliance Fund shall accrue to the Fund and compound over time. No interest or returns may be withdrawn, pledged, or redirected prior to release or forfeiture under this Agreement.
Upon a verified determination of material breach under Part 17 of this Agreement, the breaching Party shall forfeit its entire deposit, including all accrued interest. Forfeited funds shall be transferred to internationally supervised reconstruction and stabilization mechanisms designated by the guarantor states.
Upon the tenth anniversary of the Entry Into Force of this Agreement, and subject to certification of continuous compliance by the International Monitoring Mission, the full principal deposit of each Party, together with all accrued interest attributable to that Party, shall be released simultaneously and unconditionally to the respective Parties.
Failure to deposit, maintain, or comply with the obligations set forth in this Article constitutes a material breach of this Agreement.

Part 11 Transparency and Anti-Corruption

Introduction

This Part establishes transparency and accountability as continuing obligations essential to the integrity of reconstruction and long-term peace. Its purpose is to ensure that financial flows, decision-making, and implementation remain subject to public scrutiny and independent oversight, reducing corruption risks that could undermine confidence, stability, or compliance with this Agreement.

Article 31 Public Financial Transparency

All reconstruction funding, contracts, and related expenditures shall be recorded in a public and accessible digital ledger.
The ledger shall include information on funding sources, beneficiaries, contractors, and project status.
Information shall be published in a timely manner, subject only to narrowly defined security exceptions.

Article 32 Independent Oversight and Accountability

An independent international oversight body shall be established to monitor the use of reconstruction funds.
The oversight body shall have authority to conduct audits, investigations, and compliance reviews.
Verified misuse of funds or corrupt practices shall result in the suspension of financing and corrective measures.
Parties shall cooperate fully with oversight activities and provide requested information without undue delay.

Part 12 Displacement, Return, and Restitution

Introduction

This Part establishes the rights and mechanisms necessary to address displacement resulting from the conflict and to restore lawful residence, property, and dignity to affected persons. Its purpose is to ensure that return and reintegration occur safely, fairly, and without coercion, while providing clear legal remedies for loss and damage and preventing prolonged uncertainty or exclusion.

Article 33 Right of Return

All displaced Ukrainian citizens have the unconditional right to return to their places of origin or lawful residence.
Return shall be voluntary, safe, and carried out without discrimination, intimidation, or administrative obstruction.
No displaced person shall bear any financial cost associated with return, including travel, documentation, border processing, or basic resettlement needs.
The Parties, with international support, shall ensure that transportation, administrative services, and initial resettlement assistance are provided at no cost to returning persons.
The right of return under this Article shall be exercised within six months of the entry into force of this Agreement, unless an extension is granted on humanitarian grounds by the competent international authority.

Article 34 Reintegration Support

Returning persons shall be guaranteed access to housing, essential services, civil documentation, and public utilities upon return.
Reintegration measures shall include employment access, social assistance, education, and healthcare without discriminatory conditions.
Special measures shall be adopted to support vulnerable persons, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those affected by trauma.

Article 35 Property Restitution and Compensation

Returning persons have the right to restitution of property unlawfully lost, occupied, or damaged as a result of the conflict.
Where restitution is not feasible, fair and timely compensation shall be provided through an independent mechanism.
Claims procedures shall be accessible, cost-free to claimants, and supported by international oversight.

Part 13 Societal Reconciliation and Community Recovery

Introduction

This Part recognizes that durable peace extends beyond legal and security arrangements to include the gradual restoration of social trust and community resilience. Its purpose is to protect space for voluntary societal healing while avoiding prescriptive timelines or legal mandates, acknowledging that reconciliation processes unfold over time and cannot be compelled or measured within fixed implementation periods.

Article 36 Societal Healing and Acknowledgment

The Parties acknowledge that durable peace requires not only legal, security, and economic arrangements, but also societal recovery from the human and psychological consequences of the conflict.
The Parties recognize the importance of memory, acknowledgment of suffering, and community-level healing as elements contributing to long-term stability and coexistence.
This Agreement does not seek to regulate narrative reconciliation, historical interpretation, or societal dialogue through binding legal obligations.
The Parties affirm the right of individuals, communities, civil society organizations, religious institutions, and local authorities to engage freely in processes of remembrance, trauma recovery, dialogue, and reconciliation consistent with domestic law and international human rights standards.
The Parties shall not obstruct, suppress, or politicize peaceful societal reconciliation initiatives, nor shall such initiatives be construed as violations of this Agreement.
International partners may support voluntary psychosocial recovery, memorialization, and reconciliation efforts, provided such support does not undermine the neutrality, security framework, or enforceability of this Agreement.

Article 37 Day of Peace and Remembrance

The Parties agree to designate a common calendar date commemorating the entry into force of this Agreement as the Day of Peace.
This Day of Peace shall be recognized in both States as a nationally observed public and bank holiday.
The purpose of this observance shall be to mark the formal conclusion of armed conflict and the commencement of permanent peace under this Agreement.
Observance of the Day of Peace shall not be used for political mobilization, military display, or nationalist demonstration, and shall be conducted in a manner consistent with peaceful remembrance and coexistence.

Part 14 Protection of Religious, Linguistic, and Cultural Heritage

Introduction

This Part safeguards religious, linguistic, and cultural rights while explicitly preventing their misuse as instruments of political leverage, security exception, or external intervention. Its purpose is to protect identity and heritage without creating parallel authorities, special security arrangements, or interpretive gaps that could undermine neutrality, territorial integrity, or the enforcement architecture of this Agreement.

Article 38 Religious Freedom and Protection of Sacred Sites

The Parties affirm the right to freedom of religion or belief for all individuals within Ukraine, in accordance with international human rights law.
Religious institutions, communities, clergy, and places of worship shall be protected from violence, coercion, discrimination, or politicization.
Sacred sites, monasteries, churches, cemeteries, and religious heritage sites of historical significance shall be preserved and protected, regardless of religious affiliation or historical association.
No religious institution or community shall be used as an instrument of political control, military influence, or foreign interference.

Article 39 Linguistic Rights and Cultural Expression

The Parties recognize the linguistic diversity of Ukraine and affirm the right of individuals and communities to use, preserve, and develop their languages in private, cultural, religious, and community life.
The use of any language shall not be grounds for discrimination, persecution, or exclusion.
Language policies shall be implemented in a manner consistent with national law and international standards, and shall not be enforced through coercion or violence.

Article 40 Cultural and Historical Heritage

The Parties recognize that Ukraine contains cultural, historical, and religious heritage of significance to multiple peoples and traditions, including those with historical ties to the territory.
Cultural heritage sites, artifacts, archives, and monuments shall be protected from destruction, alteration, or appropriation.
The preservation of shared heritage shall not be construed as a claim of sovereignty, political authority, or exclusive historical ownership.
International cooperation in heritage preservation, documentation, and restoration is permitted and encouraged under neutral and professional frameworks.

Article 41 Non-Instrumentalization of Identity

Religious, linguistic, and cultural identities shall not be used to justify violence, territorial claims, political domination, special security arrangements, external guarantees, or interference in internal affairs.
Protection of heritage and identity under this Part shall not confer special political status, autonomy, or external rights to any state or entity.
Violations of this Part may be addressed through the monitoring mission’s mandate, as well as the dispute resolution and enforcement mechanisms established under this Agreement.

Part 15 Economic Interdependence and Cooperation

Introduction

This Part establishes economic cooperation as a stabilizing pillar of peace, separate from military alignment or security commitments. Its purpose is to ensure that Ukraine’s permanent neutrality does not impede lawful economic integration, while promoting mutually beneficial trade, transit, and infrastructure cooperation that supports regional stability without creating dependency, leverage, or military obligation.

Article 42 Neutral Economic Integration

Ukraine retains the sovereign right to engage in international trade, investment, and economic cooperation with all states and institutions.
Ukraine’s permanent neutrality shall not restrict its ability to enter into economic agreements, regulatory cooperation, or development partnerships.
Economic cooperation shall be conducted on a non-discriminatory basis and consistent with international law.

Article 43 Shared Transit and Energy Cooperation

The Parties shall support stable and secure transit arrangements for goods, energy, and essential services across the region.
Cooperative frameworks may be established for energy transit, infrastructure maintenance, and logistical coordination where mutually beneficial.
Economic cooperation under this Part shall not create military obligations or compromise Ukraine’s neutral status.

Part 16 Accountability and Claims

Introduction

This Part affirms that peace under this Agreement does not negate individual criminal responsibility or extinguish lawful claims arising from the conflict. Its purpose is to ensure that accountability mechanisms operate independently and in parallel with this Agreement, preserving justice, legal continuity, and the integrity of international law without allowing claims processes to undermine the stability or enforcement of the peace framework.

Article 44 Individual Criminal Accountability

Nothing in this Agreement shall provide amnesty for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, or other serious violations of international law.
Individuals accused of such crimes remain subject to investigation and prosecution under applicable international and domestic legal mechanisms.
The Parties shall cooperate with international courts, tribunals, and investigative bodies in accordance with their legal obligations.

Article 45 State Responsibility and Claims

This Agreement does not extinguish claims arising under international law for injury, loss, or damage caused by the conflict.
State responsibility claims shall be addressed through independent legal and claims mechanisms separate from the enforcement of this Agreement.
Claims processes shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and orderly manner and shall not be used to delay, obstruct, or undermine the operation of this Agreement.

Part 17 Breach, Collective Responsibility, and Penalties

Introduction

This Part establishes a clear, automatic, and collective enforcement architecture to ensure that violations of this Agreement carry predictable consequences. Its purpose is to remove ambiguity, prevent selective enforcement, and ensure that responsibility extends beyond direct violators to those who enable, excuse, or sustain breaches, while preserving the complementary operation of existing international legal remedies.

Article 46 Material Breach

A material breach includes any violation of the core obligations of this Agreement, including the use of force, violation of neutrality, obstruction of monitoring, or refusal to comply with enforcement measures.
Breaches include acts committed directly or through proxies, affiliates, or supported entities.
Determinations of material breach shall be based on verified findings under the monitoring mechanisms established by this Agreement.

Article 47 Collective Responsibility for Breach

In the event of a material breach by a Party, responsibility shall extend beyond the breaching Party to its formal guarantors and registered supporting states or institutions under this Agreement.
Supporting states are defined as those that have provided security guarantees, material military support, economic guarantees, or reconstruction participation tied to the breaching Party under this Agreement.
Supporting states shall not be subject to penalties if they demonstrably oppose the breach and take active measures to restore compliance.
Failure by supporting states to oppose or remediate a breach shall constitute shared responsibility.

Article 48 Automatic Penalties

Upon confirmation of a material breach, automatic and proportionate penalties shall apply to the breaching Party and the responsible supporting states.
Penalties may include financial forfeitures, suspension from reconstruction and economic cooperation mechanisms, reimposition of economic restrictions, and exclusion from benefits established under this Agreement.
Penalties shall remain in effect until compliance is restored and verified.
The application of penalties under this Article shall be without prejudice to other applicable international legal remedies and accountability mechanisms.
No separate political authorization shall be required for the application of penalties once responsibility is determined.

Part 18 Dispute Resolution

Introduction

This Part establishes a structured and continuous mechanism for resolving disputes arising under this Agreement. Its purpose is to ensure that disagreements are addressed promptly, transparently, and through institutional processes that prevent escalation, preserve enforcement integrity, and reinforce compliance through clarity rather than coercion.

Article 49 Joint Peace and Neutrality Commission

A Joint Peace and Neutrality Commission is hereby established.
The Commission shall be composed of representatives of the Parties and guarantor states, with participation by neutral experts as required.
The Commission shall serve as the primary forum for addressing disputes arising from the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.
The Commission shall operate on a continuous basis and maintain procedures for urgent consultation.
The Commission may issue public summaries of disputes submitted to it and their outcomes, provided such summaries do not disclose sensitive operational information or compromise monitoring or enforcement activities.

Article 50 Dispute Resolution Procedures

Any dispute concerning this Agreement shall be submitted to the Commission without delay.
The Commission shall seek resolution through factual clarification, legal interpretation, and agreed corrective measures.
Dispute resolution procedures shall not suspend monitoring, enforcement, or protective measures where ongoing harm or risk of escalation exists.
Failure to engage with the Commission in good faith constitutes a violation of this Agreement.

Part 19 Historical Record and Education

Introduction

This Part establishes a common legal and documentary understanding of the conclusion of the conflict, while safeguarding the integrity of the historical record and education. Its purpose is to prevent narrative drift that could undermine the permanence of this Agreement, while preserving academic freedom and ensuring clear distinctions between historical fact, legal determination, and political interpretation.

Article 51 Official Classification of the Conflict

The Parties agree that the armed conflict is concluded through this enforceable Peace Agreement.
This classification shall be reflected in official state records, international registrations, and relevant institutional documentation.
No Party shall characterize the conclusion of the conflict in a manner that undermines the legal force or permanence of this Agreement.

Article 52 Education, Archives, and Public Records

The Parties shall ensure that the existence and legal nature of this Agreement are reflected in official educational materials and public records.
Historical archives related to the conflict and its resolution shall be preserved and protected.
Educational references shall be factual and shall not promote renewed hostility or incitement to violence.
Educational and public materials shall distinguish clearly between established historical facts, legal conclusions under this Agreement, and political opinion or interpretation.

Part 20 Permanence and Final Provisions

Introduction

This Part confirms the permanent, binding, and non-derogable nature of this Agreement and secures its continuity across time, political change, and legal systems. Its purpose is to eliminate any ambiguity regarding duration, withdrawal, constitutional hierarchy, or domestic applicability, and to ensure that this Agreement operates as the supreme law within the constitutional frameworks of the Parties.

Article 53 Permanence

This Agreement is concluded without limitation in time.
Its obligations are binding upon the Parties, guarantor states, and their successor governments and authorities.
Changes in political leadership, internal law, or international circumstances shall not affect the validity or application of this Agreement.

Article 54 Withdrawal

Unilateral withdrawal from this Agreement is prohibited.
Any attempt to withdraw, suspend, or terminate participation outside the procedures expressly provided herein constitutes a material breach.
Such breach shall trigger the enforcement and penalty mechanisms established under this Agreement.

Article 55 Entry Into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force upon ratification by the Parties and the designated guarantor states.
Upon entry into force, all obligations shall become immediately applicable unless otherwise specified.
The Depositary shall notify all Parties and guarantors of ratification and entry into force.

Article 56 Constitutional Incorporation and Supremacy

Ukraine shall incorporate this Agreement and all of its Articles into the Constitution of Ukraine and the constitutional legal order of Ukraine, in accordance with its constitutional procedures.
The Russian Federation shall incorporate this Agreement and all of its Articles into the Constitution of the Russian Federation and the constitutional legal order of the Russian Federation, in accordance with its constitutional procedures.
Such incorporation shall ensure that this Agreement has binding force superior to, or prevailing over, any conflicting domestic law, legislation, regulation, judicial interpretation, or administrative act.
No provision of domestic law, constitutional interpretation, or institutional practice may be invoked to justify non-application, selective application, or suspension of obligations arising under this Agreement.
Where a formal constitutional amendment is required to give full effect to this Agreement, such an amendment shall be undertaken without undue delay following ratification.

Article 57 Amendments

This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement of the Parties, with the consent of the guarantor states, in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.

Any amendment shall enter into force only after formal adoption, ratification, and notification by the Depositary, and shall form an integral part of this Agreement.

No amendment, interpretation, or modification may be effected through practice, unilateral declaration, or informal arrangement.

Article 58 Interpretation and Authentic Texts

The Ukrainian, Russian, and English texts of this Agreement are equally authentic.

In the event of divergence in interpretation between authentic texts, the meaning that best reconciles the texts in light of the object and purpose of this Agreement shall prevail, taking into account its permanence, enforceability, and neutrality framework.

Article 59 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, inapplicable, or unenforceable by a competent authority, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect.

Annexes

Introduction

This section establishes technical and procedural Annexes as integral instruments for the implementation, verification, and enforcement of this Agreement. Its purpose is to provide operational detail without altering the substantive obligations set forth in the Articles, ensuring flexibility, precision, and adaptability while preserving the binding force and permanence of the Agreement.

Annex A Map and Coordinates of the Provisional Line of Contact established under Article 16.

Annex B Weapons Categories, Force Limits, and Prohibited Military Systems applicable within the Demilitarized Interface Zones established pursuant to this Agreement.

Annex C Mandate, Composition, and Technical Capabilities of the International Monitoring Mission established under Part 7 of this Agreement.

Annex D Reconstruction Contribution Framework and Allocation Methodology in support of the reconstruction and economic stabilization obligations set forth in this Agreement.

Annex E Procedures for Verification, Evidence Assessment, and Attribution of Violations for the purposes of monitoring, enforcement, and dispute resolution under this Agreement.

The Annexes listed above shall be developed, finalized, and adopted by the Parties and guarantor states within an agreed implementation period following the Entry Into Force of this Agreement pursuant to Article 51.

Pending their adoption, all obligations contained in the Articles of this Agreement shall remain fully binding and enforceable.

Upon adoption in accordance with the procedures established herein, each Annex shall automatically enter into force and shall be considered an integral and binding part of this Agreement without requiring further ratification.

Depositary

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall serve as the Depositary of this Agreement.
The Depositary shall receive and hold the original text of this Agreement, together with all instruments of ratification, accession, and acceptance.
The Depositary shall examine whether instruments submitted are in proper form and shall notify all Parties, guarantor states, and supporting states of signatures, ratifications, accessions, entry into force, and any other relevant notifications under this Agreement.

Signature and Authentication

This Agreement is signed in a single original.

Done at ____________________, on ____________________.

For Ukraine

Name: Title:

Signature:

For the Russian Federation

Name: Title:

Signature:

For Guarantor States

Name of State or Institution:

Name: Title:

Signature:

Each country on both sides needs to sign and adopt this agreement.

Thank you for reading this and I hope it was worth the time it took to read it all.

Join us at: Peaceaidfoundation.org

Share: