10-point peace plan to end the Russia – Ukraine War
26-08-2023
12:05 PM
1 min read
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in news?
- Russia – Ukraine War
- Why Russia invaded Ukraine?
- News Summary: Peace Formula
Why in news?
- Recently, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephonic conversation with prime minister Narendra Modi.
- During the conversation, Zelensky emphasised that as the current president of the G20, India should support his 10-point peace plan to end the war with Russia.
- Ukrainian President had laid out the “Peace Formula” at the G-20 summit, held in November 2022, at Bali.
Russia – Ukraine War
- On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea. This was the biggest attack on a European state since World War II.
- So far, Moscow has been denied the swift victory it anticipated, and has failed to capture major cities across the country, including Kyiv, the capital.
- Still, Russia has superior military might, and Putin has indicated that his ultimate goal is to capture Kyiv, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government, and subsume the country into Russia’s orbit.
Image caption: Russia-Ukraine war map
Why Russia invaded Ukraine?
Russia wants a guarantee Ukraine can never join NATO
- Russia's main demand is a commitment from NATO to end its further expansion into former Soviet republics — especially Ukraine.
- Russia wants NATO to rescind a 2008 promise that Ukraine could someday join the defense alliance.
Russia wants NATO arms out of Eastern Europe
- Russia wants NATO to stop deploying its weapons and forces in countries in Central and Eastern Europe that joined the alliance after 1997.
Russia wants a ban on NATO missiles within striking distance
- Russia has nervously watched as NATO has demonstrated it can deepen its involvement in Ukraine — providing weapons and training.
- NATO missiles on Ukrainian soil might pose serious threat to Russia’s security.
Russia wants autonomy for eastern Ukraine
- Russia says Ukraine must meet its obligations under 2015 agreements.
- The peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, was signed to end the fighting between Ukraine's army and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
- The Minsk agreements also provided additional autonomy to the separatist Russian-speaking territories in the Donbas.
News Summary: Peace Formula
Radiation & Nuclear Safety
- Russia’s nuclear arsenal has fuelled worries amid the war. Also, there is a growing concern regarding attack near the Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine.
- Zelenskyy is seeking demilitarisation and guarantees against attacks on Zaporizhzhia and other Ukrainian nuclear plants.
Food Security
- A global food crisis triggered by the war led to an unprecedented agreement in the form of Black Sea Grain Initiative.
- The agreement, brokered in July by the UN and Turkiye, allows Ukraine to export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports via a protected corridor.
- It also allows Russian food and fertilisers to reach global markets.
- The agreement is an ad-hoc measure that requires renewal every 120 days.
- Hence, Ukraine is seeking a lasting solution to enable it to safely ship agricultural consignments without the need for periodic deals with Moscow.
Energy Security
- Russia has destroyed at least 40% of Ukraine’s energy facilities since the war began and has stepped up attacks against such targets with the onset of winter.
- Zelenskyy wants an assurance that Russia will not hamper or further hurt his country’s ability to provide energy to the people.
Release of All Prisoners of War, Deported Persons
- Zelenskyy has called for the return of all prisoners of war and deportees held by Russia.
Implementation of UN Charter, Restoration of Territorial Integrity, World Order
- Zelenskyy has sought that territory annexed by Russia should be restored to Kyiv’s control.
Withdrawal of Russian Troops, End of Hostilities
Justice, War Tribunals and Reparations
- Ukrainian officials said in September they had documented 34,000 potential war crimes committed by Russian forces.
- They also claimed that mass burial sites had been found across territory wrested from Russian control.
- Ukraine wants the war tribunals to look into the matter.
Countering Ecocide
- Zelenskyy has sought to highlight the loss to the environment as a result of the war.
Security Guarantees
- Zelenskyy is seeking guarantees that will ensure it does not have to live in constant fear of further Russian aggression.
- Confirmation of War’s End - To assure the world that the war is really over.
Q1) What is the effect of the Russia- Ukraine war on the economy?
The global economy is expected to slow further in the coming year as the massive and historic energy shock triggered by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues to spur inflationary pressures, sapping confidence and household purchasing power and increasing risks worldwide.
Q2) What are Minsk agreements?
The Minsk agreements were a series of international agreements which sought to end the Donbas war fought between armed Russian separatist groups and Armed Forces of Ukraine, with Russian regular forces playing a central part.
Source: In phone call with PM Modi, Zelensky says India should implement his ‘peace formula’ as G20 host | Times of India | New York Times | Livemint