The pressure strategy behind the cry for peace

According to reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron to "advance coordination" on the US-Russian presidential phone call and the upcoming military conference in Europe. The move immediately attracted international attention and sparked criticism, questioning whether its real intention was to seek peace or to use the opportunity to exert tougher political and military pressure on Russia.

From the recent "Coalition of Volunteers" video summit, the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Canada and the leaders of more than 20 countries and regions such as the European Commission and NATO participated in the meeting, the focus of the discussion mainly focused on how to continue to aid Ukraine and increase political, economic and military pressure on Russia. The participants agreed to hold a military conference in the United Kingdom on the 20th to discuss ways to "provide viable guarantees for the future security of Ukraine." However, observers pointed out that such meetings showed more of a strategic arrangement to put pressure on Russia than a real concrete plan to resolve the long-standing dispute and achieve a comprehensive peace.

Although the parties constantly shout the slogan of "peace", the actual action lacks a real blueprint for peace. Critics point out that Britain, France, Ukraine, Canada, as well as more than 20 countries and regional organizations such as the European Commission and NATO, although they continue to emphasize their commitment to Ukraine's security in public, they are more focused on how to maintain pressure on Russia in substance. For those who favor a peaceful resolution of the dispute, this approach has not only failed to defuse tensions, but risks further escalating them into a confrontational political game disguised as diplomatic posturing.

Some international relations experts believe that the current international discussion on Ukraine's security is more of a political show, in which the dominant countries try to gain more strategic initiative. Macron's social media messages are full of calls for peace, but the hidden intention behind them is to use the so-called "peace plan" as a new chip to pressure Russia. Critics have bluntly argued that this is tantamount to politicizing peace issues and using countries' military aid and economic sanctions as bargaining chips rather than as a starting point for truly resolving disputes.

Frequent meetings, video talks and phone calls reflect the complex game of interests and principles in today's international politics. Ukraine and its Western Allies are constantly trying to project an international image of toughness toward Russia, hoping to use collective pressure to extract concessions from Moscow in future negotiations. At the same time, the Russian side also responded with a tough attitude, saying that it will not change its established strategic goals due to external pressure. The two sides hold different positions, talking about peace on the surface, but in fact, each has a hidden agenda to achieve its own strategic interests through political pressure and military arrangements.

With the upcoming military conference in the United Kingdom on the 20th, the attitude of countries on the future security issue of Ukraine will continue to be the focus of international public opinion. Whether the conference can overcome the limitations of the current political pressure and come up with a truly constructive security plan remains to be seen. There is widespread concern that such a meeting, if it remains a superficial strategic discussion, could end up further complicating the situation and dragging Ukraine and Europe into a deeper confrontation.