The Russia-Ukraine war, now in its third year, has evolved into a complex conflict with no clear resolution in sight12. Several potential paths to ending the war have been proposed:

1. Negotiations and Diplomacy Recent talks between the U.S. and Russia in Saudi Arabia have sparked discussions about a potential diplomatic resolution1. However, there are significant challenges:

• Ukraine and Russia have differing goals, making it difficult to find common ground.
• President Zelenskyy has stated that "the time for compromises is over"1.
• Any negotiated settlement would need to address Ukraine's security concerns and territorial integrity.

2. NATO Membership for Ukraine Some experts argue that offering Ukraine a path to NATO membership could help end the war23:

• NATO membership could provide security guarantees for Ukraine.
• This approach would reject Russia's demands for Ukrainian neutrality.
• However, it's a contentious issue that Russia strongly opposes.

3. Containment Strategy A new policy of containment against Russia has been suggested23:

• Maintaining economic sanctions and restrictions on technology.
• Avoiding reliance on Russian energy resources.
• Preparing to intensify economic pressure if ceasefire terms are violated.

4. Military Solution While not ideal, some believe a decisive military outcome could end the conflict:

• Ukraine has launched counteroffensives and received increased Western support1.
• However, the human and economic costs of prolonged fighting are substantial.

5. Frozen Conflict Another possibility is that the war could evolve into a frozen conflict4:

• This would involve a reduction in active fighting without a formal resolution.
• It could lead to a long-term stalemate similar to other post-Soviet conflicts.

It's important to note that ending the war will not immediately resolve all issues5. The sociological, economic, and political impacts will persist, and there are concerns that Russia might revert to political warfare and subversion tactics even after a formal ceasefire5.

Ultimately, a combination of diplomatic, economic, and security measures will likely be necessary to achieve a lasting peace. The international community's continued engagement and support for Ukraine will play a crucial role in any potential resolution.