But a year of talks and failed agreements has demonstrated that there is no purely diplomatic solution either. Only by eliminating – or at least seriously diminishing – the potential for the separatists and their Russian backers to continue their military campaign can Ukraine and its partners hope for a lasting political solution.
德国总理默克尔和其他人说，乌克兰冲突没有纯军事解决方案，这显然是正确的。但为期一年的谈判和失败的协议已经表明，也没有纯粹的外交解决方案。只有通过消灭——或至少严重削弱——分裂分子及其俄罗斯支持者继续军事行动的潜力，乌克兰及其伙伴才能看到可持续的政治方案的希望。