Trump is calling for peace. But how exactly do you end a war?

Australia Broadcast Center

14 hours ago

It took more than 150 meetings and two years before the Korean War armistice agreement was reached.
The Western Sahara conflict began in the 1970s and continues today.
So what does it take to end a conflict?
Despite multiple rounds of peace talks and mounting international scrutiny, there doesn't appear to be an end in sight to the bloodshed in Israel-Gaza.
Russia and Ukraine are caught in a similar stalemate, with the weekend's Alaskan summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin failing to make any inroads on peace with Kyiv.
But mediators warn negotiations are "highly technical" and "incredibly difficult".
And history shows it will take time, patience — and for world leaders like Mr Trump to keep applying pressure — before we will see peace.
Here is a look at what happens when you get two enemies in a room, and how to guide them towards a solution.
Peace talks can involve direct negotiations between warring parties or the use of a mediator.
Paul Dziatkowiec is the director of mediation and peace support at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and previously worked as an Australian diplomat for about a decade.
He says mediators must be trusted by both sides and should traditionally be seen as impartial.
Although that's not always the case, such as with Mr Trump.
"You see the US president trying to play this kind of role, pushing and prodding and using sanctions and economic incentives to try to force a result," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
Peace talks can also be extremely tense affairs, so mediators need to have a knack for keeping people calm.
"Behind closed doors, there are times when [people] insult each other and swear at each other," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
Mr Dziatkowiec says wars often boil down to people's "needs and fears".
"This is the underlying reason for many conflicts. This is often where the solution can be found," he says.
Both sides can be driven by basic things.
"They're afraid for their security, they're interested in respect, dignity, economic opportunity, and a more comfortable life for their family unit, for their community," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
These are just some of the levers mediators can pull when guiding negotiations.
Dr Damien Kingsbury is a professor emeritus of politics and security at Deakin, and has participated in multiple peace talks.
He says compromise is key.
"If you come out with a 50-50 compromise, you end up with only half of what you want," he says.
"But it's half of something, rather than 100 per cent of nothing."
External factors can also make or break negotiations.
Dr Kingsbury was an advisor at the 2005 peace talks that ended a brutal, three-decade separatist war in the Indonesian province of Aceh.
He says both sides were caught in a "hurting stalemate" — a deadlock causing significant harm to each, with no clear path to victory.
But by 2005, both sides were inching toward a peace deal.
The Free Aceh Movement was considering dropping its demands for full independence, while in Jakarta, new Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was ready to pursue a peace deal as part of his strategy to curb the powers of the country's military.
Moves towards peace were given extra impetus as the region struggled to recover from the impact of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
"They had a willingness to be at the table and a genuine desire for some sort of resolution," Dr Kingsbury says.
If there isn't "political will" for peace from the top, talks will inevitably struggle.
Mr Dziatkowiec worked on the Russo-Ukrainian War for six years before Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, and experienced this firsthand from Russia's Vladimir Putin.
"I knew if one man sitting in Moscow didn't want there to be a breakthrough, then it wouldn't matter how effective our discussions were," he says.
Dr Kingsbury says while Kyiv seems genuinely interested in negotiation, Moscow doesn't appear to be.
"So it may come to the table, but not be prepared to make any substantive compromises in order to find a resolution," he says.
As for the Israel-Gaza conflict, Dr Kingsbury says it seems neither Israel nor Hamas is genuinely interested in a peace agreement.
He says the Israeli government appears to want a "military success" against Hamas, similar to the one that ended the Sri Lankan civil war.
That 26-year conflict finished after Sri Lanka's military crushed the Tamil Tigers, killing as many as 40,000 civilians in the final months.
In addition to a lack of political will, Dr Kingsbury says "spoilers" can also hamper talks.
These are people who continually undermine peace talks by launching military actions or politically blocking agreements.
They are typically third parties, such as terrorist groups or rogue commanders, but can also cause havoc in the "main negotiating parties".
Facing these kinds of barriers, Mr Dziatkowiec says some days can feel hopeless for mediators.
"Your job is to be the last one that gives up," he says.
This is where "private diplomacy" comes in.
These are secret talks between mediators and warring parties, including people that governments are "uncomfortable talking to directly", such as terrorist or rebel groups.
Mr Dziatkowiec works in this space and says unofficial talks are always happening, even if official diplomacy has been abandoned or isn't yet on the cards.
"You try to find entry points, you try to find creative ways to engage and build trust and get things moving," he says.
History shows that other countries can play a significant role in peace talks, but there must be sustained engagement.
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is a prime example of this.
He spent months flying between Middle East capitals after the 1973 Arab-Israel war to deal with the fallout — a tenacious approach that coined the term "shuttle diplomacy".
Mr Trump has an equally significant role to play in current major conflicts, according to Mr Dziatkowiec. He just needs to stay focused.
The mediation expert says the US president has brought a "new energy" to negotiations and has the greatest potential to change the course of these wars.
He has also shown a willingness to engage with leaders who are shunned by other Western nations, such as Mr Putin.
And Mr Trump is not alone. Other countries, such as Türkiye and some Gulf states, have also tried to mediate between Russia and Ukraine.
"They bring unique strengths and a fresh and nuanced approach to the table, though they don't have the same carrots and sticks as the US does," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
China could also play a powerful role "if it wanted to", with Russia growing increasingly dependent on the eastern superpower as it continues to face punishing sanctions.
"It could influence Putin to change course," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
In the meantime, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will continue to provide sufficient military support for Ukraine, and the US president's tight ceasefire deadlines are concerning some.
"Tight deadlines rarely bring lasting breakthroughs in these situations," Mr Dziatkowiec says.
"I hope he stays committed to a genuine peacemaking role, because he could achieve big things around the world if only he is an honest broker, stays determined, and doesn't get his attention diverted."