At this very moment there are millions of Ukrainians in a cold, dark winter praying for an end to the war with Russia. They need hope that Russia will stop its attacks, withdraw its forces and choose peace over war and aggression.
Peace is the Christmas miracle Ukraine needs most of all. It has happened before.
Back in 1814 before Christmas there were families in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain who were praying for an end to a war. They too may have been losing hope.
But little did they know their prayers were answered on Christmas Eve in 1814. The Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812, was signed that day by British and American diplomats in Belgium. The Peace of Christmas Eve, as the Treaty of Ghent is called, answered the prayers of those suffering from the War of 1812.
John Quincy Adams, who led U.S. diplomats in negotiating the Treaty of Ghent, wrote in his diary on Christmas Eve “I cannot close the record of this day without a humble offering of Gratitude to God, for the conclusion to which it has pleased him to bring the Negotiations for Peace at this place, and a fervent prayer that its result may be propitious to the welfare, the best interests and the Union of my Country!”
Ending war and choosing peace was in the best interests of both the United States and Great Britain.
In fact, never again would Great Britain and the United States go to war, and this was because they choose diplomacy for how to resolve their problems. They also realized their shared border would never be secure if the two nations were constantly at war and heightened tensions.
The Peace of Christmas Eve led to other agreements, including a landmark 1817 disarmament treaty. Britain and the United States agreed to disarm their warships on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. An arms race was avoided. Peace was beginning to seize momentum between the two rivals. The foundation for this disarmament agreement was established by U.S. diplomat Albert Gallatin during the Peace of Christmas Eve negotiations.
It is a wise nation that chooses peace over war. The power of modern weapons has made peace even more vital.
As President Dwight Eisenhower said “Since the advent of nuclear weapons, it seems clear that there is no longer any alternative to peace, if there is to be a happy and well world.”
It is only through diplomacy and compromise that a nation can achieve a true peace and stability. War is a costly and dangerous policy that no nation can sustain. It is far better to spend precious resources on the well-being of people rather than invasions and costly armaments.
We can see how senseless and destructive Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been. Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukraine and seek to build a peaceful border with their neighbor. Instead of war they should opt for treaties like the Rush-Bagot agreement and seek disarmament along their border with Ukraine. That is the only way to build true security.
The United States and Russia should also negotiate a treaty which lowers their nuclear arsenals from thousands to hundreds. Throughout the Ukraine conflict the danger of nuclear weapons has revealed itself again, as during the Cold War. It’s clear that nuclear weapons need to be reduced to lessen tensions and the danger of their accidental use. Ending the war in Ukraine could lead to many other major treaties as did the Peace of Christmas Eve in 1814.
With mercy by Christmas Eve 2022 there will be an end to the fighting in Ukraine, a withdrawal of Russian troops and the dawn of a lasting peace.
William Lambers is the author of The Road to Peace and partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the NY Times, Newsweek, History News Network, Chicago Sun Times and many other news outlets.