Two international relations experts have offered cautious but contrasting reflections on the latest meeting between President Donald Trump of the United States, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and European allies aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (20 August), Ken Ahorsu, a senior research fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, stressed that dialogue remains the only viable path toward a resolution, even if the talks appear inconclusive for now.
“People want to look at the issue from a simplistic perspective – that Russia invaded Ukraine and must simply be punished. But every conflict has underlying issues,” Dr Ahorsu said.
He explained that Russia’s security concerns, particularly NATO’s eastward expansion, remain central to Moscow’s posture. Drawing an analogy, he asked: “If Togo had nuclear weapons facing Ghana, how would Ghana feel secure?”
He argued that the grievances in Donetsk and Luhansk – regions with strong cultural ties to Russia – cannot be ignored. According to him, sustainable peace will only emerge through negotiation, concessions, and autonomy arrangements. “Once they start talking, eventually there will be a solution,” Ahorsu said.
However, Dr Ahorsu cautioned against overreliance on NATO or the so-called “coalition of the willing”, warning that Europe’s arms build-up could divert funds from aid to Africa. “When they are using the money for an arms race, the little that spills over into Africa will not come again. That is the challenge people are not aware of,” he said.
In contrast, Kwame Agyenim Boateng, an international relations expert, questioned the seriousness of the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting. He described it as more symbolic than substantive.
“One would have thought that the Europeans would sit and discuss things seriously, but it didn’t happen that way,” Professor Agyenim said. He suggested that the mediation style adopted by Trump, often transactional and self-promotional, leaves doubts about his ability to broker a durable settlement.
According to him, any peace framework must be negotiated directly between Russia and Ukraine, with other actors serving only as facilitators. He warned that vague coalitions and empty declarations will not end the war. “If you say you are willing but we don’t see contributions in terms of arms or concrete programs, that’s not the best way of resolving a problem,” he said.
Both experts, however, agreed that the war cannot be settled on the battlefield alone. While Dr Ahorsu underscored Russia’s security interests and the need for compromise, Professor Agyenim stressed that without clear commitments and credible support from Western allies, current diplomatic overtures risk becoming “just a matter of talking and talking”.
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