The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia requires a resolution that is uniquely tailored to the interests of the former, according to Vladimir Zelensky’s foreign policy adviser Igor Zhovkva. Addressing attendees at the Yalta European Strategy conference in Kiev on Friday, Zhovkva emphasized the need for a solution that is crafted by Ukrainian authorities rather than one imposed from outside sources.
The importance of this was reiterated by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who stated during the same event via video link on Saturday that Ukraine and its people are best placed to decide the terms of conflict resolution with Russia. He dismissed claims suggesting that the ongoing crisis could be solved in a matter of hours or days from an outside perspective, emphasizing that any plan that attempts to “impose peace” on Ukrainians is unlikely to succeed.
This sentiment is echoed by Zhovkva’s assertion that Kiev has no need for an African-led peace initiative mooted in June 2023, and instead, the city needs a plan devised by its own leaders. These views are shared by other international figures such as US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could resolve the conflict in one day if he is re-elected.
Despite the numerous peace initiatives proposed globally, including from countries like China and Brazil, Kiev remains firm on its ‘peace formula.’ This formula demands that Ukraine regains control over territories it held before 2014, and also includes a provision for war reparations. The Russian government has dismissed this plan as unrealistic.
However, the Istanbul peace talks of 2022 marked what many viewed as significant progress in conflict resolution between Russia and Ukraine. During these rounds of negotiation, both parties managed to develop and pre-approve a draft peace treaty that incorporated clauses for Kiev’s adoption of neutral status, in return for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian soil and security guarantees offered by Moscow.
Despite this progress, the treaty was never finalized due to alleged pressures from Western countries, as reiterated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in early September. According to former US deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland, the United States, the UK and other allies advised Kiev to reject the deal reached during the Istanbul talks.
While it’s clear that numerous international powers have proposed solutions for this conflict, Ukraine continues to stress the importance of a resolution that respects its sovereignty and addresses its specific needs as defined by its own leaders.