Whamond depicts the Russia-Ukraine peace process moving in reverse, with diplomatic progress undermined by renewed military escalation. The cartoon captures the cyclical frustration of ceasefire talks that collapse as soon as they begin. The reversal imagery suggests the peace process is regressing.
The cartoon by John Cole illustrates Russian President Vladimir Putin holding a fragment of a Ukraine map labeled with an E while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands with the larger remaining piece. A speech bubble from Putin states he will return for the other piece. The top banner reads THE 'PIECE' DEAL. The image responds to ongoing discussions of potential peace negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine conflict as of early May 2025.
Cole depicts Vladimir Putin's proposed Ukraine peace plan as a transparent land grab disguised as diplomacy, playing on "piece" vs "peace." The cartoon shows Putin claiming large portions of Ukraine as his price for peace. The visual pun captures the bad faith at the heart of Russia's negotiating position.
