Discussion: Ukraine should surrender its eastern provinces to make peace

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine after previously seizing and annexing Crimea. It was expected that the Russian military would quickly subdue Ukraine but the invasion stalled before it had reached the capital, Kyiv. Russia then shifted its focus to seizing the eastern, Russian speaking provinces of Ukraine. It held a referendum and they voted to join the Russian Federation and were annexed by Russia. But Ukraine’s recent counteroffensive has taken back control of part of those provinces and Russia is threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend its sovereign territory.

Was Russia's annexation of the eastern provinces of Ukraine legitimate? Should Ukraine sue for peace and give them up? Should western nations support Ukraine’s desire to retake them? Should they support Ukraine’s desire to retake Crimea? Is it worth the risk of WWIII?

## Pro

The people of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson have expressed their desire, along with Crimea, to join the Russian Federation. Respecting their choice and allowing these provinces to join Russia would put an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine should sue for peace and end the war with Russia.

## Con

We can only guess at Russia’s original war aims. It was only the determination of Ukraine to fight for its independence that stopped the tank columns racing to capture the capital, Kyiv, and conquer Ukraine. Now Russia wants to annex the eastern provinces after previously taking Crimea by force. The world should not sit idly by and allow military aggression to be rewarded. It should support Ukrain’s valiant efforts to take back the territories that Russia has invaded, if not with material then at least with moral support.

https://www.rhetocracy.org/event/view?eventEntityId=1153682009068