COPENHAGEN MEET ON UKRAINE CRISIS
Context
- Ukraine's efforts to build international support for a peace blueprint.
Details
- Ukraine has made progress in building broad international support for a peace blueprint.
- However, any summit to endorse the document is at least months away, according to officials.
- Senior officials from Ukraine, G7 countries, the European Union, and other nations met in Denmark for talks on the concept.
- The meeting aimed to advance a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for a "peace summit" to endorse principles for ending the war.
Coalition Building
- The summit would not involve Russia, but rather rally a broad coalition behind the Kyiv government.
- Major countries that have not provided military aid to Ukraine or imposed sanctions on Russia were also invited.
- The goal is to increase diplomatic pressure on Moscow.
China's Absence
- China was invited to the talks but did not attend, highlighting the challenge of building a global coalition.
Impact of Russian Turmoil
- The ongoing turmoil in Russia could potentially persuade more countries to support Ukraine's cause.
- Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen believes that the weakening of Putin's position might influence discussions on a post-war situation in Ukraine.
Peace Formula
- The focus of the talks was on finding common ground for a possible peace formula.
- The discussions built on a 10-point plan outlined by President Zelenskiy in November.
- Officials emphasized the importance of basing the formula on the principles of the U.N. Charter, such as territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Ukraine's Position
- Andriy Yermak, Zelenskiy's chief of staff, represented Ukraine at the talks.
- Ukraine wants a peace settlement based on its proposals but is open to input from others.
- It is clear that there will be no territorial compromises from Ukraine's side.
U.S. Participation
- S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan participated in the meeting via video due to the upheaval in Russia.
Timeline and Venue
- Zelenskiy proposed the summit to take place in July, but officials believe more work needs to be done.
- A date later in the year is more likely, and Copenhagen has been suggested as a possible venue.
Utilizing Instability
- Some officials believe that Ukraine having more time to negotiate and potentially gain advantages on the battlefield during the instability in Russia is not necessarily a bad thing.
Meetings Held for Russia Ukraine Peace
Meeting 1
- Date: February 28, 2022
- Location: Gomel, Belarus
- Participants:
- Mykhailo Podolyak, Head of the Ukrainian delegation
- Vladimir Medinsky, Head of the Russian delegation
- Key points:
- The two sides agreed to a temporary ceasefire to allow for humanitarian corridors to be established.
- They also agreed to continue talks in the future.
Meeting 2
- Date: March 3, 2022
- Location: Same as Meeting 1
- Participants: Same as Meeting 1
- Key points:
- The two sides discussed a possible ceasefire agreement.
- They also discussed the future of Ukraine's neutrality.
Meeting 3
- Date: March 7, 2022
- Location: Same as Meeting 1
- Participants: Same as Meeting 1
- Key points:
- The two sides failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire.
- They also failed to reach an agreement on Ukraine's neutrality.
Meeting 4
- Date: March 10, 2022
- Location: Istanbul, Turkey
- Participants:
- Mykhailo Podolyak, Head of the Ukrainian delegation
- Vladimir Medinsky, Head of the Russian delegation
- İbrahim Kalın, Turkish Presidential Spokesperson
- Oleg Ušakov, Russian Presidential Aide
- Key points:
- The two sides discussed a possible ceasefire agreement.
- They also discussed the future of Ukraine's neutrality.
- They agreed to continue talks in the future.
Meeting 5
- Date: April 1, 2022
- Location: Same as Meeting 4
- Participants: Same as Meeting 4
- Key points:
- The two sides discussed a possible ceasefire agreement.
- They also discussed the future of Ukraine's neutrality.
- They failed to reach an agreement on either issue.
PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Analyze the challenges faced by Ukraine in creating a global coalition and the significance of excluding Russia from the proposed peace summit. (150 words) |
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-peace-summit-talks-make-progress-long-way-go-officials-2023-06-26/