“We remain committed to the
principle that international borders must not be changed by force.”[1]
This statement was signed by E.U. leaders, as well as officials at the state
level, and even leaders of sovereign European states such as Britain and Norway
several days after U.S. president Trump had met with officials from Ukraine at
the White House on October 17, 2025. If only the Europeans had been so unified
in 1939; it is difficult to fathom how the world would be 14 years short of a
century later had World War II not taken place. Force as a de facto decider of
territory has been the default through human history.
The full essay is at "Paradigm-Shift in International Relations."
1. Euronews, “European Leaders Back Ukraine Ceasefire Proposal at Current Contact Line,” Euronews.com, 21 October 2025.
