January 7, 2026
Changed Borders

It is true that there have been no border changes after World War II, and therefore the transfer of Donbas to Russia would represent a violation of this principle that has brought peace to Europe. However, there have been breakups of states, and these have sometimes led to wars over the division of territories. For example, in Yugoslavia an internal conflict broke out over borders, but the external borders did not change (for instance, Italy did not try to reclaim Istria). In breakups, terrible wars often occur, such as during the fall of the Turkish Empire in the Balkans.
Consolidated border changes between states are a different matter from those resulting from the breakup of states.