'Peace in Our Time!'— Will History Repeat Itself?

A COMMENTARY: On August 15, a highly anticipated meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to take place in Alaska. The stakes could not be higher. For Ukraine — battered by years of war, its cities scarred, and its people scattered — the question looms: will this meeting lead to genuine peace, or will it mark the beginning of a dangerous compromise?

Some speculate Ukraine might be partitioned, with Russia retaining territory it seized, much like the post-war divisions of Germany or Korea. Europe, too, is watching closely.

To understand the gravity of this moment, we need to remember a strikingly similar episode in history.

The Lesson of the Munich Agreement

In late 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met multiple times with Adolf Hitler over the Sudetenland — a region of Czechoslovakia with a German-speaking population. Hitler claimed it as part of Germany’s rightful territory. The Munich Agreement allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland in exchange for promises of “no further territorial demands.”

Upon returning to London, Chamberlain famously declared, “I believe it is peace in our time!” The cheering crowds welcomed what they thought was the dawn of a lasting peace. Yet within a year, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia and soon after, Poland — plunging the world into the most devastating war in human history.

History’s verdict is clear: appeasing a tyrant in the hope of avoiding conflict rarely prevents war; it often delays it and makes it far more destructive.

Appeasement in Today’s World

The Ukraine war — the largest and deadliest in Europe since World War II — began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, but its roots stretch back to 2014 when Crimea was annexed. Since then, Moscow has shown that it sees Ukraine not as a sovereign nation to respect, but as territory to control.

Any agreement that rewards aggression with territory risks repeating the same mistake Britain and France made in 1938--sacrificing a smaller nation’s rights for the illusion of stability. It may temporarily halt the fighting, but it could embolden future aggression — not just from Russia, but from other powers watching closely. (China vis-à-vis Taiwan comes to mind).

The Bible’s Warning About False Peace

The Bible gives a sobering perspective on political peace deals that ignore justice and truth. Jeremiah warned against leaders and prophets who proclaim “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace--

“Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness;

And from the prophet even to the priest,

everyone deals falsely.

They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’

When there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14; Cf. 8:11).

These words described leaders who offered shallow solutions to deep moral and political problems, covering wounds with a thin bandage instead of genuine healing.

Similarly, the prophet Ezekiel condemned those “who lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace” (Ezekiel 13:10, 16). The promise of peace without righteousness, justice, and repentance is a mirage — it disappears the moment reality catches up.

Man-made peace plans often fail because they ignore the deeper cause of conflict: human pride, greed, and sin. As James 4:1 asks,

“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

Unless those inner causes are addressed, war is inevitable — whether months or years down the road.

Signs of a False Peace--

▪️Evil is ignored or excused — Wrongdoing is tolerated for the sake of “unity.”

▪️Truth is sacrificed — Leaders avoid confronting lies to keep the peace.

▪️Justice is denied — Victims are silenced, and the oppressor is rewarded.

▪️Short-term relief, long-term danger — Problems are hidden, not addressed and solved.

▪️Empty promises — Agreements rest on the word of leaders with a history of breaking them.

▪️Moral compromise — God’s standards are set aside for political gain.

“They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace.” — Jeremiah 6:14

The Only Source of Lasting Peace

The Bible does not leave us hopeless. It points to the return of Jesus Christ — the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) — as the only way the world will know true, lasting peace.

When He returns--

“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares… Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

This peace will not come from human negotiations but from God’s direct rule over the earth. Christ will establish a government based on God’s law — a system that teaches nations the way of love, justice, and reconciliation. There will be no backroom deals, no secret motives, and no appeasement of evil.

Our Present Responsibility

While we await that future, Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) — but not by compromising truth. True peacemaking involves upholding justice, defending the oppressed, and pointing people to God’s standards. As Proverbs 21:15 says, “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”

If history teaches us anything, it is this: peace built on deception, fear, or moral compromise will crumble. But peace rooted in truth and righteousness will endure.

As the Trump–Putin meeting approaches, the world should remember Munich in 1938 — and the bloodshed that followed. Leaders may seek to secure “peace in our time,” but unless that peace is anchored in justice and truth, it will be short-lived. The only permanent peace will come when the Prince of Peace reigns, and the world finally learns the way of God.

Let us pray for leaders to act with wisdom and courage. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the true peace yet to come, when Christ will rule and war will be no more.

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Micah 4:3) --Rh.