For decades, the United States has carried the weight of global leadership. It has projected power, defended allies, and at times overreached. Yet today, as conflicts rage in Israel and Ukraine, the U.S. has a rare chance to push not just for military outcomes but for peace rooted in law and compromise. Neither conflict will be solved by force alone. Both require bold tradeoffs, and both demand American leadership willing to push beyond endless war.
Israel and Gaza: The Case for a Total Hostage and Prisoner Exchange
The war in Gaza has produced staggering human costs. At the heart of the conflict lies the searing issue of hostages and prisoners. Hundreds of Israelis remain in captivity. Thousands of Palestinians languish in Israeli prisons. Each side views their captives as symbols of injustice. Each side uses them as leverage in a brutal cycle of retaliation.
The United States could champion a clean, comprehensive solution: an all-for-all exchange. Every Israeli hostage returned home, every Palestinian prisoner released. This approach strips away one of the greatest sources of grievance. It acknowledges that as long as hostages and prisoners are used as bargaining chips, the cycle of revenge will never end.
International law supports this idea. The Geneva Conventions provide that detainees in conflicts should not be exploited for political purposes. A mass exchange overseen by neutral third parties would reflect those principles. More importantly, it would give both societies a chance to reset the political atmosphere. Families could begin to heal. Negotiations on larger questions, such as territory and governance, could move forward with fewer human obstacles.
The U.S. role would be crucial. Washington could apply pressure on Israel, while also leaning on Arab partners to guarantee Palestinian compliance. Such an agreement would not solve all disputes, but it would take one of the most painful weapons off the battlefield.
Ukraine: The Path to Peace Runs Through Crimea
The war in Ukraine has hardened into a bloody stalemate. Western weapons flow in. Russian troops dig deeper. Civilians are left in ruins. The United States must recognize that total victory is unlikely. Russia will not surrender Crimea, and Ukraine cannot afford to give up its sovereignty elsewhere.
Here lies the opening for compromise. Ukraine could cede Crimea formally or tacitly to Russia, but retain the rest of its internationally recognized borders. The so-called land bridge that Russia has carved through southern Ukraine would not be legitimized. Ukraine would still maintain access to the sea, retain its capital, and continue its march toward integration with Europe.
This solution reflects a hard truth. International law affirms Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but law without power is fragile. A settlement that recognizes the reality of Crimea while rejecting Russia’s broader ambitions offers a path to peace. It preserves the principle of sovereignty in most of Ukraine, while acknowledging that Crimea has been a unique case since 2014.
The U.S. role again would be decisive. Washington could broker a deal that links territorial compromise with long-term security guarantees. That might mean NATO-style protections, commitments of military aid, or a demilitarized buffer monitored by international observers. Such steps would reassure Ukraine that ceding Crimea is not capitulation but a strategic trade for survival and sovereignty.
The Legal Dimension
Both of these proposals would draw strength from international law. The all-for-all exchange in Israel would echo humanitarian law’s prohibition on hostage-taking. The settlement in Ukraine would reflect the principle of negotiated peace embedded in the UN Charter. Law does not always deliver perfect justice, but it provides the framework that turns compromise into legitimacy. Without legal grounding, peace deals are little more than pauses before the next war.
Why Trump Must Lead
The alternative to bold compromises is endless bloodshed. In Gaza, that means more civilians buried under rubble and more hostages left in darkness. In Ukraine, it means a grinding war that drains Western treasuries and fuels instability across Europe.
The U.S. has the leverage, the diplomatic clout, and the global reach to make these solutions possible. It can condition military aid on progress toward negotiation. It can rally international partners to support and monitor agreements. It can remind the world that leadership is not measured by weapons supplied but by peace achieved.
A Pragmatic Future
Some will say these proposals reward bad actors. Others will argue they fall short of justice. Both critiques are true, yet peace is never perfect. It is forged not from ideal outcomes but from what is possible. Trading all hostages for all prisoners would not erase decades of mistrust, but it would open a path forward. Ceding Crimea would not undo Russia’s aggression, but it could prevent Ukraine’s destruction.
The United States faces a choice. It can continue to bankroll wars without end, or it can use its power to press for peace through compromise and law. History will not judge America by the number of missiles it shipped abroad. It will judge by whether it had the courage to pursue peace when peace was still possible.
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All content on this page and site written by Christian Lassen, Esq.