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2026 August 8th: This is our open letter outlining six necessary steps toward lasting peace in Ukraine:

Open Letter to EU Policymakers and Civil Society 

A Path to Sustainable Peace in Ukraine 

Preface: The Academic Imperative for Constructive Engagement

As an institution grounded in rigorous analysis, ethical responsibility, and the pursuit of synthesis, the Academy of Responsible Excellence recognizes its civic and intellectual duty to engage with pressing geopolitical challenges. History teaches us that durable progress is rarely achieved through dogmatic entrenchment; rather, it emerges from the disciplined effort to understand all perspectives and to forge pragmatic compromises. In this spirit, we address the European Union and its broader society, not to supplant official diplomacy, but to offer a strategic framework that preserves the intellectual and communicative space necessary for eventual conflict resolution.

Context: A Call for Strategic Reflection

We observe with concern the recent reaction to European Council President Antonio Costa’s suggestion that exploring a communication channel with Russia warrants consideration. The swift and firm pushback from various European capitals underscores the acute sensitivities surrounding this conflict. However, it also highlights a critical vulnerability: when political signaling restricts all avenues of contact, the EU transitions from a potential mediator into a fully entrenched party to the dispute. To effectively serve the cause of peace, and to remain a credible architect of the future European security order, the EU must navigate this tension with both principled resolve and strategic foresight.

SIX Foundational Principles for a Responsible Peace Process 

The Academy of Responsible Excellence offers the following six principles as guiding pillars for EU policy, designed to uphold international law while preserving the conditions for a sustainable and just peace:

1. Et audiatur altera pars– The Imperative of Reciprocal Listening
   Dialogue is not an endorsement; it is a prerequisite for any viable settlement. A durable resolution requires serious consideration of both thesis and antithesis to reach a workable synthesis. Opposing views are integral to the problem-solving process, not its termination. Furthermore, history warns us, most notably through the Treaty of Versailles, that settlements which wholly humiliate one side plant the seeds of future instability. Any enduring framework must allow all parties to preserve their core interests and maintain their dignity.
2. Academia as a Catalyst for Track II Diplomacy
   Geopolitical conflicts profoundly affect societal well-being. Academics, alongside artists and intellectuals, bear a special responsibility as neutral conveners, capable of facilitating informal, non-official dialogues. Through rigorous scenario-building and expert working groups, we can prepare the intellectual groundwork necessary for formal negotiations, particularly when official channels are constrained by political pressures.
3. Peace should remain the foundation of European integration.
   The European Union was created as a peace project. Any future enlargement should strengthen the Union’s long-term stability, security, and cohesion. A sustainable and internationally supported peace provides the strongest basis for Ukraine’s successful European future and for the shared responsibilities of all Member States.
4. The EU’s Dual Role: Principled Stance, Mediating Posture
   The European Union should continue to uphold international law, defend sovereignty, reject aggression and terrorism unequivocally, and support those suffering from war. At the same time, preserving the ability to engage in diplomacy is an essential component of responsible leadership. Peace is achieved not only through resolve but also through dialogue.
5. Responsible diplomacy keeps future reconciliation possible.
   The Academy unequivocally recognizes the immense human suffering caused by the war in Ukraine. At the same time, history reminds us that today’s adversaries often become tomorrow’s negotiating partners. Keeping channels of communication available whenever circumstances permit is not a concession but an investment in future peace and European security. Principles of the post-WWII reconciliation, cooperation, reconstruction and new community of nations in Europe (Schuman Plan and Marshall Plan) are inspirational, well proven and living and should be applied for a way towards a dignified peace agreement.
6. Economic Interdependence as the Cornerstone of Just Peace
   Sustainable peace is built upon shared prosperity. The economic reconstruction of Ukraine, supported by EU aid, should not be viewed as a zero-sum game that precludes future cooperation with Russia. A just peace offers the only viable foundation for orderly economic development, fostering an environment where trade, infrastructure, and innovation benefit all regional stakeholders. Economic progress is not merely a post-conflict reward; it is the engine that will drive long-term stability.

Conclusion: Keeping the Door Open for Track II Diplomacy 

The Academy of Responsible Excellence firmly believes that the path to peace requires both principled resolve and diplomatic pragmatism. While political leaders are bound by public mandates and security constraints, civil society, academic institutions, and retired statespersons can maintain the lifelines of communication that formal diplomacy cannot always afford.

Therefore, we expressly declare our readiness to host, facilitate, and support Track II diplomatic exchanges, bringing together experts, former officials, and civil society representatives from Ukraine, Russia, and the EU. We advocate for confidential, non-binding forums to explore mutually acceptable frameworks, de-escalate misconceptions, and identify potential avenues for compromise.

Even amidst the gravest disputes, the intellectual and academic communities must keep the corridors of communication open. By laying the cognitive and relational groundwork today, we ensure that when political will inevitably crystallizes, the blueprint for a just and lasting peace is already prepared. We urge EU policymakers to leave the door open for such initiatives, recognizing that the pursuit of peace is never a sign of weakness, but the ultimate measure of responsible leadership.

sub sigillo academiae excellentiae responsibilis 

Vindobona, XV Augusti, MMXXVI

 AcadREx-Working group IV: A Path to Sustainable Peace in Ukraine (headed by Jan Figel, Elmar Kuhn, Afsar Rathor) 

Distributor: EU Consilium and Parliament, Politicians and Statesmen Ö, BRD, F, I, UK, RS, VA, UA, USA, Media 

AcadREx – Academy of Responsible Excellence – President Prof. Dr. Dr.hc. Ulrich Blum; Chancellor Prof. Dr. Elmar Kuhn
Vienna Office, Email: office@responsible-academy.com, https://responsible-academy.com/vision

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