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COPENHAGEN MEET ON UKRAINE CRISIS

28th June, 2023

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/