A Comprehensive Approach to Peace in Europe: Is There a Viable Path?

We must understand Russia’s concerns and address the desires it has for a new and improved security structure in Europe. We must also understand that the Russian government wants Russians living in the former Soviet republics to have normal living conditions, to be able to cultivate their own culture and language, and to have the same minority rights as all population groups in the EU are entitled to. This is a special message to the Russian people and an attempt to demonstrate a viable path out of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and Russia’s conflict with its western neighbors. This is written by the founder of EURUO.

The video is not identical to this article, but reflects on the same topics.

I know that the Russian people are concerned about the current situation and that you desire normal trade and cooperation with the rest of Europe. I also know that the people and government of your country desire a new security structure in Europe based on some fundamental conditions. Everyone knows that you do not want countries bordering Russia to have foreign troops stationed on their territory in peacetime. We also know that you do not want military activity and exercises near your borders; therefore, both Russia and the countries bordering Russia must create demilitarized zones extending 100 km on each side of the border where this is possible. This applies both to land, sea, and air.

We do not underestimate your concerns. We know that Ukraine is close to you, and history also testifies to this with your close ties and the important trade that has characterized the countries. When the fighting on the battlefield has ceased, we must resume normal trade and cooperation. We must pursue a comprehensive policy in all areas so that all sanctions against you and your country are lifted. You should also be able to travel and work like other European citizens, as was normal before the conflict.

No sensible politician wants to isolate the Russian people; we want to sell goods to you and we want to buy goods and energy from you. We want to pursue an inclusive policy that leads to stability, growth, and harmony for all of Europe, so that the standard of living for all citizens improves in the coming years.

We also know that you have no plans to incorporate large parts of the former Soviet Union under your rule. You do not have an expansionist strategy, but you desire mutual respect and dialogue. We all know that the only sensible path to peace and stability is through trade and interaction with people on an equal footing and in all areas. Sanctioning you and trying to weaken your proud military is futile and will not lead to anything good in the future. We also know that sanctions cannot force Russia to the negotiating table. We must understand each other and have reconciliation in mind.

As you know, Ukraine has received guarantees from many countries, both in terms of protection and reconstruction. And together we must all help to rebuild the country and create good relations between the populations so that we can all move forward as gently as possible and face a brighter future.

We know that you want more autonomy for Donbas and that your language and culture are respected throughout Ukraine. We also know that you want to retain your Black Sea Fleet, which has been stationed in Crimea for over 250 years. It should be possible to conclude a new lease agreement. We also know that Crimea is something special for you and that you still want to spend your summer holidays on the beautiful Black Sea beaches. I also know that you want your magnificent new bridge to become an integral part of the normal traffic network in the area. It should be possible to negotiate these matters with the help of diplomacy. Turkey is willing to assist with peace negotiations, and it is obvious to hold future peace negotiations in Istanbul.

We know that you want Ukraine to be neutral and that there should be no foreign troops stationed in the country in peacetime. We also know that you have a desire for more autonomy for several regions in Ukraine. Could it be that a solution would be to establish powerful Russian representations in Sevastopol, Luhansk, Donetsk, Mariupol, Zaporizhzja, and Kherson, which could mediate the necessary future cooperation between the countries through the Russian Center for Cooperation, Culture, and Trade, and that six Russian centers for the promotion of cooperation, culture, and trade were thus established?

We know that both the Ukrainian and Russian people want peace, and we know that you find it difficult to see the purpose of these extensive military operations and destruction and this conflict between brotherly peoples. It is necessary now to develop solutions that can be presented to the parties. Solutions that are developed together with several of the major countries in Europe. These proposals should then be presented to the Russian and Ukrainian governments, and where they also participate actively in the peace efforts.

Now the prosposal is it is six Russian Center for Cooperation, Culture, and Trade in: Sevastopol, Luhansk, Donetsk, Mariupol, Zaporizhzja, and Kherson,

The time has come for foreign ministers or deputy foreign ministers from these countries to set aside the necessary time and resources for concrete and constructive peace negotiations, and for them to activate their corps of skilled diplomats to participate in future peace negotiations. Peace negotiations in a format that I call 15-2, and both Ukrainian and Russian politicians have called for a platform and a format for future peace negotiations. It is obvious that these negotiations take place in Istanbul. We must be able to handle Russia’s legitimate security interests without this being at the expense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

It is my hope that these thoughts can gain acceptance with the Ukrainian and Russian governments and in the European capitals and the countries that are to participate in the negotiations, so that we can all instill hope and reconciliation in the Ukrainian and Russian people and with a desire that hostilities can soon cease in 2025 and that peace and reconciliation characterize the coming time.

The Work and Procedures of the Conciliation Institution (Draft)

The Conciliation Institution is staffed with countries and organizations deemed best suited to address a specific conflict. As such, the Institution has no fixed membership. The UN Secretary-General organizes and selects the participating countries, potentially in collaboration with the parties to the dispute.

Description of the Conciliator’s Procedures in Mediation, etc. The conciliator is tasked with preventing military conflicts, border disputes, and wars, as well as mediating in such conflicts. The conciliator is appointed by the UN Secretary-General and may be the Secretary-General themselves or a negotiator designated by the Secretary-General to act on their behalf.

The Task of Providing Assistance and Mediation In a conflict, the conciliator can provide assistance to resolve the dispute and, in cases of war, act as a mediator and help develop a peace plan to be presented to the parties. If a party to the conflict seeks assistance from the conciliator, it may request assistance from the Conciliation Institution. The same naturally applies if both parties wish the conciliator to act as a mediator.

It is not a condition that one or both parties have requested assistance in conflict mediation. The Institution may independently prepare working papers that can be presented to the disputing parties.

Contacting the Conciliation Institution Inquiries to the Conciliation Institution may be made informally. It is practical if the inquiry includes information about who can be contacted about the matter for both parties, including email addresses and telephone numbers. The party or parties who have requested that the Conciliation Institution intervene in mediation must attend meetings with the Institution.

Upon receipt of the inquiry, the conciliator’s secretary may, by telephone or email, contact the parties to clarify the need for assistance.

What Does the Conciliator Do? If the conciliator believes that their intervention is necessary, the parties are summoned to a meeting at the Conciliation Institution. The parties are required to attend the meeting when summoned by the conciliator.

The summons may be for the purpose of briefing the conciliator, or it may be for the purpose of the parties conducting a negotiation with the assistance of the conciliator to resolve the conflict.

In some cases, the conciliator may determine that there is no basis for providing assistance. The conciliator may also determine that there is no basis for assistance at present, but that the parties should anticipate being summoned to negotiations later if they have not reached agreement on their own.

The summons will indicate whether the meeting will be for the purpose of mutual orientation or whether the summons is for negotiations.