Why Everybody Suddenly Has a Ukraine Plan

Andrii Artemenko, a little-known Ukrainian populist lawmaker, became a name in the U.S. after the New York Times reported he's worked with Donald Trump confidantes on a peace plan for Ukraine. He didn't necessarily deserve these 15 minutes of fame: Suddenly, lots of Ukrainian politicians have plans to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. They are born of U.S. chaos and local frustration as the country enters the fourth year since the 2014 "Revolution of Dignity" with little to show in the way of achievements and with existential dangers undiminished.

The New York Times report cost Artemenko membership in the Radical Party faction of the Ukrainian parliament, led by Oleg Lyashko. His party accused him of seeking to compromise the country's integrity. Artemenko's idea was to lease Crimea out to Russia for 30 to 50 years, if a national referendum allows this, and then let Crimea residents decide which country they want to belong to. The legislator also proposed holding a referendum on whether to let eastern Ukraine have broad autonomy; Russia's lease payments for Crimea would be used to fund the rebuilding of the war-torn region.