NOW EXCLUSIVE WSJ: Ukraine and Allies Plan Peace Summit Without Russia…
Yesterday we reflected on the following: Tuesday's chaos reflections... Is the current state of war is out of control?
The protracted conflict of attrition that both superpowers have been pursuing has proven to be unsuccessful.
The phrase "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" is a well-known principle of justice that dates back to ancient times. It suggests that the punishment for a wrongdoing should be proportional to the harm caused by the offense. This concept has been debated and interpreted in various ways throughout history, but it remains a fundamental principle in many legal systems around the world.
The adage "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth" has its roots in the Code of Hammurabi, a legal code inscribed in the Akkadian language during the reign of King Hammurabi of Babylon between 1792 and 1750 BC. This expression is referenced in the Bible, more precisely in Matthew 5:38.
The military operations conducted by both superpowers, as evidenced by the recent missile strikes launched by Russia on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev and the utilization of drones by Ukraine to target Moscow, indicate that the protracted conflict that both superpowers have been pursuing has not yielded the desired outcome of attrition. The fundamental principle of checks and balances has been eroded, resulting in a feeling of hopelessness and an illogical approach to justice, whereby each action is met with an equivalent and opposing reaction. It is imperative to tackle these concerns and reinstate equilibrium and impartiality in our political structures.
In the context of retributive justice, Mahatma Gandhi famously stated, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind," a statement that remains pertinent in contemporary times. The pursuit of vengeance serves to sustain a culture of violence and devastation, resulting in an unceasing pattern of anguish and affliction. Instead, it is imperative that we endeavor to cultivate forgiveness and understanding as a means of attaining enduring peace and harmony in our global community. It is imperative to acknowledge that the experience of anger and resentment can impede our capacity to empathize with others, thereby limiting our ability to understand and relate to their perspectives. By cultivating compassion and empathy, it is possible to break away from this cycle and strive towards a more promising future that benefits all individuals. Let us reflect upon the of Gandhi and opt for the course of forgiveness and comprehension, even when confronted with challenging circumstances.
The topic of food inflation in Europe was addressed yesterday in a comprehensive article published by The New York Times.
Why Are Food Prices So High in Europe?A United Nations index of global food commodity prices, such as wheat, meat and vegetable oil, peaked in March 2022, immediately after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is one of the largest grain producers. The war disrupted grain and oil production in the region and had global impact, too, worsening food crises in parts of East Africa and the Middle East.
This discourse pertains to the continuous drone and missile assaults carried out against non-combatants in Russia and Ukraine. The far-reaching consequences of the ongoing war have exceeded the initial predictions, highlighting the urgent need for a prompt resolution to the conflict in order to restore a state of peace.
Image: President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine/Editing by Germán & CoKyiv has strong European backing for a gathering before NATO meeting in July
Zelensky's peace plan aims to restore Ukraine's control, release prisoners of war, and prosecute war crimes. The proposal suggests addressing nuclear safety and food security, both allegedly jeopardized by Russia's occupation of a nuclear power plant and invasion.
By Bojan Pancevski, Laurence Norman and James Marson, May 30, 2023Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top adviser told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that Ukraine and its allies are planning a summit of global leaders that would exclude Russia, aimed at ending the war on Ukraine’s terms. Photo: The Wall Street Journal
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine and its allies are planning a summit of global leaders that would exclude Russia, aimed at garnering support for Kyiv’s terms for ending the war, according to a senior Ukrainian presidential adviser and European diplomats.
Plans for a gathering, while preliminary, have strong support from European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron who are lobbying for participation by countries that have sided with Russia or declined to take a position on the war.
“We require a unified plan of the responsible civilized world that really wants to live in peace,” said Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff. Yermak told The Wall Street Journal that direct negotiations with Russia weren’t possible as long as its troops remain in the country. Ukraine won’t compromise on its territorial integrity, he said.
European officials say they are working with Kyiv to recraft Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan in ways that will make it more acceptable to other global powers such as India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and China.
“The process is not possible without the whole world, including the leaders of the global south,” said Yermak, who is Zelensky’s top adviser.
Kyiv has made a concerted effort in recent months to engage with countries such as China, Brazil and India. Ukraine is ready to talk with all countries and hear their opinions, Yermak said, including representatives of China and Brazil, who visited this month.
Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan calls for restoring Ukraine’s control over its territory, returning prisoners of war and prosecuting war crimes. It also proposes addressing nuclear safety, which it says is compromised by Russia’s occupation of a nuclear power plant, and food security, by protecting grain exports that are hampered by Russia’s invasion.
President Biden and other top leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization would be invited for the meeting, which Western diplomats hope can take place shortly before NATO’s annual summit that starts July 11. That gathering, in Vilnius, Lithuania, will focus on military support for Ukraine and Kyiv’s future relationship with the organization.
Zelensky early this year asked Macron to help him with international outreach to leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping, according to European diplomats. The talks later matured into plans to organize a conference, the people said. Macron has offered to host the conference in Paris, and Denmark and Sweden have also proposed hosting it, these people said.
No clear list of attendees has been established, but European officials have fanned out to capitals of leading world powers in recent weeks, seeking to bring Brazil, India, China and other non-Western countries on board.
One official involved in the discussions said they were hopeful that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend, but they were much less sure about Xi.
Modi has at times expressed his concerns about the war. Xi has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times since the war started but took more than a year to call Zelensky. Xi made the call after Macron visited him in Beijing. Chinese officials have repeatedly underscored their partnership with Russia and with Putin personally.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva earlier this month sent former Foreign Minister Celso Amorim to Kyiv and Moscow for talks, but he didn’t meet with Zelensky in Japan this month when both attended a Group of Seven summit.
A conference would build on Ukraine’s continuing diplomatic outreach to traditional allies of Russia: Zelensky recently traveled to a summit of the Arab League, while his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has toured African countries.
The Western effort comes as other countries with far closer ties to Russia have sought to take the lead in diplomatic work to end the conflict. Both Brazil and China have sent peace envoys to Moscow and European capitals for discussions on ending the war. Neither country has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and both have advocated a quick cease-fire, which would leave Russia controlling swaths of Ukraine, for now.
The peace meeting would seek to place Ukraine and its allies back at the center of that international diplomacy. European officials aim to ensure that future talks take Kyiv’s plan as the diplomatic reference point.
“No Russians but everybody else will be welcomed,” a senior European diplomat said of summit planning.
The timing of the conference ahead of the NATO meeting would send a signal to the rest of the world that while Europe and the U.S. will keep supporting Ukraine with arms, they are also seeking diplomatic solutions to a conflict whose economic spillovers have hurt much of the developing world. Western countries have come under fire from rivals including China and Brazil for sending arms to Ukraine, which those countries say is fueling the conflict.
The idea for the conference was initially hatched in a conversation between Macron and Zelensky in Paris in February, European diplomats said, where the French leader pressed his Ukrainian counterpart to accept that there would eventually need to be peace talks with the Kremlin.
Macron raised the issue with Xi during a recent visit to Beijing. The idea was also floated at this month’s meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven advanced democracies conference in Japan, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. Zelensky also attended that meeting, as did the leaders of India, Brazil and Indonesia.
On Tuesday, Zelensky spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. A German statement said the two leaders would stay in close contact “with a view to mobilizing global support for a peace solution.”
Senior Ukrainian officials have repeatedly said they would continue their fight against Russia unless Moscow is prepared to engage with its peace plan, which rejects a temporary cease-fire and calls for Russian forces to be withdrawn before talks start.
Russia has said it is open to peace talks but on the condition that Ukraine effectively recognize the territories it has annexed. U.S. officials have said recently that they believe the likelihood for meaningful diplomacy before the end of the year is low.