See.news search didn't work to find it. Thanks. I'd really like to see the cited The Economist article, which appears to be pay walled. Which is probably why I couldn't find it earlier.
"Before the invasion, when they had surrounded Ukraine, it might have been possible [to avoid war]. If [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelensky could have been made to promise that his country will not join nato, or made to grant a high degree of autonomy to the two enclaves in the east. I understand this would be hard to do—perhaps an American leader could have done it. But of course [Zelensky] would refuse."
https://see.news/former-japanese-pm-zelenskys-decisions-led-to-outbreak-of-war-in-ukraine/
See.news search didn't work to find it. Thanks. I'd really like to see the cited The Economist article, which appears to be pay walled. Which is probably why I couldn't find it earlier.
https://archive.ph/4CyN8 you can use archive to get past pay wall
"Before the invasion, when they had surrounded Ukraine, it might have been possible [to avoid war]. If [Ukrainian president Volodymyr] Zelensky could have been made to promise that his country will not join nato, or made to grant a high degree of autonomy to the two enclaves in the east. I understand this would be hard to do—perhaps an American leader could have done it. But of course [Zelensky] would refuse."
That is a bit different quote, but still quite powerful. Thanks again.