Victor Davis Hanson argues for a negotiated settlement to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. He highlights the staggering human cost, with an estimated 500,000 casualties reported by August 2023 and hundreds of thousands more since then[1].

Hanson points out that neither side has made significant territorial gains since Ukraine's initial defense of Kyiv, likening the conflict to the stalemate of World War I's Western Front[1]. He notes Ukraine's manpower challenges, with a quarter of its population having fled and an average soldier age over 40[1].

The author criticizes the Biden administration's inconsistent approach to the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, urging negotiations in one while pushing for continued fighting in the other[1]. He argues that a settlement, while unpopular, could involve formalizing Russia's 2014 annexations of Crimea and Donbass, with Russia withdrawing to pre-2022 borders[1].

Hanson proposes that Ukraine could remain well-armed but outside NATO, with a demilitarized zone along the border. He suggests this compromise could allow both sides to claim some form of victory while halting the destruction of Ukraine and the loss of lives on both sides[1].

Sources [1] Stop the Ukrainian Meatgrinder? https://victorhanson.com/stop-the-ukrainian-meatgrinder/