As Ukraine looks towards peace, Bosnia offers a cautionary tale | Russia-Ukraine war

The 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the Bosnian War, offers both inspiration and a stark warning. It succeeded in halting bloodshed, but at the cost of long-term dysfunction. Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged divided, politically paralysed, and perpetually dependent on international oversight. Ukraine cannot afford to follow that path.

A rushed or externally imposed settlement – especially one prioritising “balance” over functionality – risks turning Ukraine into a fractured,…