The Financial Times reported this week that Ukraine and Russia have made significant progress in a 15-point plan for peace that includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian troops and Kyiv’s agreement to neutrality and reduce its armed forces. Mykhailo Podoliak, the aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, responded by accusing FT that it published “a draft which represents only the requesting position on the Russian side.”
“FT published a draft which represents the requesting side of the Russians. Nothing more. The Ukrainian side has their own positions. He tweeted: “The only thing we can confirm at this point is a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian troops. We also have security guarantees from several countries.”
Five anonymous sources were quoted by the publication as saying that the agreement stipulated Kyiv’s refusal of joining NATO and the deployment or foreign military bases on Ukrainian territory. Its security guarantee was provided by allies like the US, UK, and Turkey.
The report stated that the biggest obstacle is Russia’s demand that Ukraine recognize Moscow’s sovereignty in Crimea and the so called Independence of the Donetsk & Luhansk Republics.
“Russia and its president Vladimir Putin show no signs of taking part in responsible talks or ending Russia’s bloody aggressiveness against Ukraine,” US Secretary Of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday during a Washington press briefing.
“We commend Ukraine’s willingness to be at the table, despite being bombarded every minute of the time. “I’ve also not seen any significant efforts by Russia to bring the war it is waging to an end through diplomacy,” said he.
Blinken stated that the US fully supported Ukraine’s efforts for de-escalation through diplomacy, a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Russian troops. Blinken praised the efforts of other countries, including France Germany Israel and Turkey.
The US top diplomat also stressed that diplomacy demands a responsible attitude on both sides of the negotiations, and a direct de-escalation.
“I don’t think Putin is ready to stop right now. He said that his latest remarks yesterday suggest he’s moving in the opposite directions.
Zelensky stated in a video that “[the peace talks] [are]] the only opportunity for Russia to minimize the damage caused by its own mistakes.”
“It is time to meet and talk. It is time to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine and justice.” “Russia’s losses are so great that it will take several generations to recover,” said he.
Zelensky stated in a video on the evening of March 18, that “the occupation forces were stopped in almost every direction” and that “the initial plan by the Russian army to invade Ukraine has failed.”
His speech followed Putin’s address to tens and thousands of Russians during an event commemorating eight years since the Crimea annexation.
Nomination of Ukraine for the Nobel Peace Prize?
In the meantime, European politicians wrote to the Nobel Prize Committee asking them to extend the Nobel Peace Prize nomination process until March 31, 2022. This would allow President Zelensky to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the people of Ukraine.
They wrote: “In light of historic unprecedented events, we respectfully request that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee reopen and reconsider the nomination procedure for 2022 for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
“The images of war coming out of Ukraine have shocked the world. Millions of families live in fear as their homes and livelihoods are threatened by an invasion army and bombardments. We are witnesses to the courage with which the people of Ukraine have resisted the war that the Russian Federation has waged against them.
“Brave Ukrainian women and men are fighting for democracy and self-government. People in Ukraine are rising against authoritarianism, from the defiant democratically-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the man who said goodbye to his family and fought for his country with tears in his eye. Our words of support and sympathy are inadequate to describe the sacrifices that they make in the name of human rights and the peace.
“Right now, democratic citizens around the world are asking the same thing: What can we do to help the people of Ukraine?”
“We believe now is the right time to show Ukraine’s people that the world is with them. We therefore humbly ask you, the Committee to consider extending the nomination process for the Nobel Peace Prize and re-opening it until March 31, 2022. This will allow President Zelensky to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as well as the people of Ukraine.
“We are aware that we are breaking with the established procedure, but we believe that the current unprecedented situation justifies this break. It is our democratic responsibility to oppose authoritarianism, and to support people who are fighting for democracy and self-government.
The letter read: “The veneer is paper thin, we are its protectors and we cannot rest.”
Russians banned from European Parliament
Roberta Metsola tweeted this week that the European Parliament has banned diplomatic and government personnel from Russia and Belarus from entering its premises.
“As from today, diplomatic and government staff of Russia & Belarus are prohibited from entering the premises at European Parliament.” She tweeted that those who want to destroy democracy have no place in the House of Democracy.
President Biden Visits Europe
Joe Biden, US President, will travel to Poland on March 25 after his meetings with NATO Allies in Brussels, Belgium, G7 Leaders and European Union leaders. He will discuss the international efforts to support Ukraine, and impose severe, unprecedented costs on Russia. Biden will meet with Andrzej duda, the President of Poland, in a bilateral setting to discuss the United States’ response to the humanitarian crisis and human rights crisis created by Russia’s unjustified war on Ukraine.
Russia’s Plan B
A high-ranking American official told the Wall Street Journal this week that Russia changed its strategy after failing to achieve an early victory in Ukraine.
Source: Under the new strategy Russia will try and protect the territorial objects acquired and increase pressure on Ukrainian authorities to pursue their interests, including by bombarding cities, the source said. “Putin also wants Ukraine to acknowledge Moscow’s claims to the southern and east parts of the country which will allow it create a land canal to connect with occupied Crimea.”
The source told WSJ that if Putin’s demands were not met, Russia would try to retain all occupied territories, and escalate the conflict.
Georgia and NATO Next?
Evelyn Farkas is a former NATO adviser and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense. She told CNN this week, “If we lose the Ukraine, if they lose, Vladimir Putin will, if he’s strong enough, turn to Georgia and seize control; he’ll turn to Moldova and seize control of Moldova. He will then challenge NATO, he’ll try to break NATO, and he’ll challenge our democracy. He will not stop until he is stopped in Ukraine.”
Defense expert fears that war will continue as long as both sides believe they can win.
“I hate the words “provoking Russia”,” she said. “If anyone is provocative it’s Russia. Russia chose to wage this war, and Russia chose the slaughter of innocent Ukrainians. There is a question about escalation. This word is better. We don’t want an escalation. We don’t want to do anything that will cause Russia escalate. We cannot be so afraid that escalation will occur that we ignore things that could actually help the Ukrainians. We must carefully assess the risks, but also be willing to accept certain risks.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated: “Russian forces cannot advance in Ukraine despite heavy assaults on cities.”
He said that the Russian leader should hear the truth, end the war and try to find diplomatic solutions.
“Putin’s attack has been halted, despite the daily devastation that it brings. The Russian leader needs to hear the truth and stop the war. He also needs to find a diplomatic solution. The war is destroying the future of Russia as well as Ukraine.
Scholz said that while sanctions are tightened constantly, they should not be more damaging to European countries than they are to the Russian leaders.
The Chancellor added that Germany welcomes Ukrainian refugees and said that Ukraine can count on Germany.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
Read More @ georgiatoday.ge