Only Political Engineering Can Restore Russian Language Rights In Ukraine Like Lavrov Wants

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has pledged to ensure the rights of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine are restored, including their right to speak their native language. This is part of Russia's denazification goal and a prerequisite for a lasting peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict. The restoration of full Russian language rights in Ukraine requires legislative changes, but the Rada is not interested in repealing the 2019 state language law. Russia's memo for ending the conflict includes calls for elections to the Rada in parallel with those for the presidency, but there is no guarantee that Russian-friendly forces would come to power. Russia lacks influence over Ukraine's political processes, making it difficult to effect change, and therefore, this part of Russia's denazification goal might not be met unless the US takes on this responsibility. The US would be wise to do so to remove the roots of another conflict, as the Kremlin will continue to champion this cause and possibly consider covert action. The Trump Administration has not shown interest in pressuring Ukraine to comply with Russia's demanded concessions for peace, including territorial claims and demilitarization. The US could potentially advance this goal by making post-conflict military and intelligence aid contingent on the restoration of Russian language rights, but this would require a rethink of Trump's entire envisaged endgame. The situation is complex, with many uncertainties, including the outcome of potential elections and the position of Rada members towards the sensitive issue of language rights. Ultimately, the restoration of full Russian language rights in Ukraine is crucial for a sustainable peace, and the US has a key role to play in achieving this goal.