Ukraine gov’t responds to Pinchuk peace proposal

The Presidential Administration of Ukraine responded to a peace proposal with Russia offered last week by Victor Pinchuk, among the nation’s top industrial magnates. The Ukrainian government opposes any proposal to withdraw from integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, as suggested by Pinchuk, which would surrender Ukraine’s sovereignty. The government also rejects “trading land for peace,” whether it’s Donbas or Crimea. The government also rejects organizing elections in Donbas so long as Russian soldiers are on Ukrainian territory.

Pinchuk’s text was published by the Wall Street Journal on Dec. 29, while the response from Presidential Administration Deputy Head Kostiantyn Yeliseyev, “Respect for Ukraine Vital for a Lasting Peace,” was published on Jan. 4. Fear and weakness will only encourage the appetite of the Russian Federation, wrote Yeliseyev, who leads the administration’s foreign policy.

Zenon Zawada: Yesileyev has established a strong position for Ukraine ahead of tough negotiations that will be likely this year under the leadership of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Going into any negotiations related to the war, the Ukrainian government’s goal should be to set the highest demands and expectations, which was accomplished by Yeliseyev.

The new Western leadership – in the U.S., France and possibly Germany – will pressure Ukraine to reach compromise for peace, however temporary it may be. This temporary peace will better enable Ukraine to build its military defenses further to achieve that lasting peace that Yeliseyev called for.