Ukraine -- Russia wants to negotiate

 

Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine continues to impact millions of Ukrainian lives as the conflict settles into a grim war of attrition. The war is fostering a global economic crisis, driving oil prices sky-high and feeding inflation in the U.S., cutting off food supplies to Africa and the Middle East, and risking a potential nuclear catastrophe.  

The United States and NATO also bear much responsibility for the disaster, having locked Russia out of European security arrangements over decades and attempted to bring Ukraine into the Western orbit, including during and after the 2014 crisis.

Fighting near the Zaporizhzhiya nuclear plant, Europe's largest, is of grave concern.  A demilitarized zone around the plant and operation of the plant under international supervision would be a useful goal for negotiators.  But unfortunately, President Biden last week announced a further $3 billion in military aid.  He announced no new diplomatic initiatives.

There is no military solution. The longer the conflict goes on, the more Ukrainians (and Russians) will die, and the more likely it will cause a nuclear catastrophe. The United Nations is warning of years of global hardship that include global “stagflation”, a refugee crisis, and severe disruptions to trade, food security, and human development, and calling for urgent action to address the crisis.

Can we negotiate with Putin? Many respected leaders think so. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reported August 2 that Putin wants a negotiated settlement.  China’s UN ambassador called on Russia and Ukraine last week to resume negotiations, and to bring IAEA inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.  Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, writing for a Vatican-convened study group in June, identified 8 benchmarks for a ceasefire and peace agreement, and refuted 4 arguments which are often used against negotiations.  

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the House, is circulating a Congressional sign-on letter to President Biden calling on the President to take crucial steps to help bring an end to this war. These steps include: making vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engaging in direct talks with Russia, exploring prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and, in coordination with Ukraine, seeking a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s number one priority.  

We call on you to speak out for de-escalation, for diplomacy, rather than for a proxy war between the United States and Russia, the two most heavily armed nuclear nations.   Secretary Blinken should sit down with Foreign Minister Lavrov immediately to chart a diplomatic process.

It’s time for diplomacy to become the centerpiece of our Ukraine strategy. 

- There should be US-Russia negotiations on nuclear and security issues;

- There shouldbe NATO-Russia negotiations on a new European security arrangement;

- There should be Ukraine-Russia negotiations to address the territorial and other disputes that started the war.  

Weapons won’t solve this conflict – only diplomacy can.

Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine continues to impact millions of Ukrainian lives as the conflict settles into a grim war of attrition. The war is fostering a global economic crisis, driving oil prices sky-high, feeding inflation in the U.S., and cutting off food supplies to Africa and the Middle East.

The United States and NATO also bear much responsibility for the disaster, having locked Russia out of European security arrangements over decades and attempted to bring Ukraine into the Western orbit, including during and after the 2014 crisis.

Fighting near the Zaporizhzhiya nuclear plant, Europe's largest, is of grave concern.  A demilitarized zone around the plant and operation of the plant under international supervision would be a useful goal for negotiators.  But unfortunately, President Biden last week announced a further $3 billion in military aid.  He announced no new diplomatic initiatives.

There is no military solution. The longer the conflict goes on, the more Ukrainians (and Russians) will die. The United Nations is warning of years of global hardship that include global “stagflation”, a refugee crisis, and severe disruptions to trade, food security, and human development, and calling for urgent action to address the crisis.

Can we negotiate with Putin? Many respected leaders think so. Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reported August 2 that Putin wants a negotiated settlement.  China’s UN ambassador called on Russia and Ukraine last week to resume negotiations, and to bring IAEA inspectors to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.  Columbia University economist Jeffrey Sachs, writing for a Vatican-convened study group in June, identified 8 benchmarks for a ceasefire and peace agreement, and refuted 4 arguments which are often used against negotiations.  

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the House, is circulating a Congressional sign-on letter to President Biden calling on the President to take crucial steps to help bring an end to this war. These steps include: making vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire, engaging in direct talks with Russia, exploring prospects for a new European security arrangement acceptable to all parties that will allow for a sovereign and independent Ukraine, and, in coordination with Ukraine, seeking a rapid end to the conflict and reiterate this goal as America’s number one priority.  

You have voted to send arms to Ukraine, which we do not support.  We now call on you to support negotiations by signing Rep. Jayapal’s letter.  We also call on you to speak out for de-escalation, for diplomacy, rather than for a proxy war between the United States and Russia, the two most heavily armed nuclear nations.  

It’s time for diplomacy to become the centerpiece of our Ukraine strategy.  There should be US-Russia negotiations on nuclear and security issues; NATO-Russia negotiations on a new European security arrangement; and Ukraine-Russia negotiations to address the territorial and other disputes that started the war.  Weapons won’t solve this conflict – only diplomacy can.

Massachusetts Peace Action Wed, Aug 31 2022