Erdogan's ambitious peace plan for Ukraine. A delicate balance
According to information from the Russian independent portal Novaya Gazeta Europe, Turkey has proposed a new peace agreement with Ukraine and Russia. The proposal seeks to freeze the conflict at the existing front line.
The proposal comes from Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following discussions in Istanbul. It is known to all three involved parties: Turkey, Ukraine, and Russia. The latest version includes elements from talks held in May 2022.
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Novaya Gazeta Europe suggests that the proposal might find support among some European politicians. It will also be presented to countries in the Global South.
Turkey's proposal outlines several key points, including an obligation for the USA and Russia to refrain from using nuclear weapons under any circumstances. It also calls for a prohibition on meddling in the domestic affairs of states if it risks destabilizing their governments. A crucial feature of the proposal is freezing the conflict at the current frontline.
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The editors of Novaya Gazeta Europe consider the likelihood of this proposal being accepted low, noting that it is at least the ninth such initiative.
The portal also mentions Ukraine's peace formula, contrasting with the Turkish proposal. Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, insists on two primary conditions for peace: the restoration of Ukraine's control over its entire state border and the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian territories, according to the 1991 borders, including Crimea and Donbas. Moscow deems these demands unrealistic.
The Swiss government has announced an international peace summit on Ukraine. "on June 15-16 at the five-star Bürgenstock hotel above Lake Lucerne," the Federal Council of Switzerland reported. Russia has not been invited.
