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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Indian PM Narendra Modi that he is counting on New Delhi’s support for his 10-point peace plan to end the war with Russia. With the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II now in its 11th month, the two sides have been urged to end hostilities through dialogue and diplomacy. Now that Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to come to the talks table, here’s what Zelenskyy has proposed:
- Radiation & Nuclear Safety: Russia’s nuclear arsenal has fuelled worries amid the war but the worst fears have revolved around the fate of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at
Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine. The plant, now under Russian control and in shutdown mode for months, sits uneasy in a zone where it has frequently faced heavy shelling. 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”, brokered in July by the UN and Turkiye, to allow Ukraine to export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports via a protected corridor. But the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which also allows Russian food and fertilisers to reach global markets, 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. As Ukraine looks to cope with more emergency blackouts amid the biting cold, Zelenskyy wants an assurance that Russia will not hamperor further hurt his country’s ability to provide energy to the people.
- Release Of All Prisoners of War, Deported Persons: Up to 1. 6-million Ukrainians are alleged to have been forcibly deported to Russia since the invasion began in February, with Moscow accused of engaging in “the forcible transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the occupier”. Zelenskyy has called for the “return of all prisoners of war and deportees” held by Russia but experts say that while PoW swaps have been occurring, bringing back deportees could prove tougher.
- Implementation Of UN Charter, Restoration Of Territorial Integrity, World Order: Notwithstanding their differences, Ukraine sees Russia’s invasion as a violation of the UN Charter since it amounts to “annexation of a state’s territory by another state resulting from the threat or use of force”. Zelenskyy has sought that territory annexed by Russia should be restored to Kyiv’s control. Experts say that includes territory – like Crimea – annexed prior to the February invasion by Moscow.
- Withdrawal Of Russian Troops, End Of Hostilities: Ahead of the invasion, Moscow was said to have deployed more than 1. 5 lakh fighters to the Ukraine front. Further, Putin is reported to have ordered an increase in Russian troop size amid the war. Zelenskyy has sought a complete withdrawal of all Russian fighters from Ukrainian territory and an end to hostilities so as to avoid any uneasy ceasefire that does not mandate a withdrawal of forces.
- Justice, War Tribunals And Reparations: Ukrainian officials said in September they had documented 34,000 potential war crimes committed by Russian forces and claimed that mass burial sites had been found across territory wrested from Russian control. Also, Ukraine’s justice ministry said they are recording the damage caused by Russia with the aim of obtaining reparations. But any compensation mechanism and war crimes tribunal would require the global communityto put concerted pressure on Moscow and it may prove tricky for Kyiv to achieve its goals in this regard.
- Countering Ecocide: Including ecological impact as a key factor is possibly without precedent in peace talks but Zelenskyy has sought to highlight the loss to the environment as a result of the war. Reports say that the fighting has led to forests being laid waste by shelling and toxins seeping into the soil from bomb craters. But experts point out that it “is impractical to expect any meaningful agreements” around this aspect.
- Security Guarantees: Preventing Nato from making inroads into Ukraine and keeping Kyiv from cosying up to the European Union were the key factors behind Russia’s ‘special operation’ against the country. But with the war making it difficult for Ukraine to embrace such protective alliances, 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: This step would be the icing on the peace settlement and would come as and when the two sides successfully resolve all their outstanding issues. Even so, this “final, formal step”, will be necessary to assure the world that the war is really over.
Source: Media reports,
parleypolicy. com Text: Kenneth Mohanty
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