This initiative offers settlement options to conflict parties and those supporting them in the search for peace.
Draft Settlement
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Key Documents
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Key events and dates
17 December 2021
The Russian Federation presents two draft treaties to the United States, proposing the withdrawal of NATO forces from member states that joined the alliance after 1997 and an agreement not to accept new members.
January 2022
The US and NATO formally reply in January, rejecting these demands, while a large Russian military force assembles around Ukraine, on the eastern border with Russia and in Belarus.
21 February 2022
The Russian Federation recognizes Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.
24 February 2022
President Vladimir Putin announces the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine and offers a lengthy review of Russo-Ukraine relations.
28 February 2022
First round of direct negotiations in Belarus.
3 March 2022
Second round of direct negotiations in Belarus.
7 March 2022
Third round of direct negotiations in Belarus.
10 March 2022
Negotiations hosted by Turkey at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum at Foreign Minister level.
14-17 March 2022
Fourth round of negotiations (video conference).
21 March 2022
Fifth round of negotiations.
24 March 2022
The Russian Federation announces that it has reached most of the goals of the first phase of its military campaign and will now focus on eastern Ukraine.
29 March 2022
Sixth round of negotiations hosted by Turkey in Istanbul, initially leading to hopes for agreements among the sides.
30 March 2022
The Russian Federation asserts that its withdrawal from around Kyiv and areas of Northern Ukraine is a good-will gesture in response to progress in negotiations.
31 March 2022
Russian Federation plays down progress in negotiations.
3-5 April 2022
The withdrawal of Russian forces reveals strong evidence of massacres against the Ukrainian civilian population while under Russian control. The President of Ukraine asserts that this will make negotiations more difficult, but that it is necessary to persist with the dialogue.
7 April 2022
The Russian foreign Minister Lavrov claims that Ukraine is frustrating the negotiations and has backtracked from concessions. The Ukraine asserts that this is a manoeuvre to distract from the war crimes allegations.
15 April 2022
Nine humanitarian corridors confirmed by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister.
17 April 2022
Ukraine states that negotiations are at risk from the situation in Mariupol and President Putin declares they are at a ‘dead end’ due to Ukrainian allegations of war crimes.
26 April 2022
UN Secretary-General meets with President Putin. President Putin agrees in principle with proposals for humanitarian assistance and ‘safe corridors’ and expresses willingness to engage in a diplomatic settlement.
22 July 2022
Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations sign the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
21 September 2022
President Zelensky sets out a 5-point ‘formula’ for peace in a speech to the UN General Assembly.
30 September 2022
Russia annexes four occupied Ukrainian regions after claiming support from so-called ‘referendums’. President Putin warns of all necessary means to defend its territory and invites Ukraine to negotiate a ceasefire. In response, Ukraine announces an accelerated application to NATO and rejects negotiations while Putin is President.
12 October 2022
The UN General Assembly passes a resolution condemning the illegal annexation of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. 143 states voted in favour and 35 abstained.
14 November 2022
The UN General Assembly adopts a resolution to establish an international compensation mechanism for damage, loss and injury.
15 November 2022
President Zelensky outlines a 10-Point Proposal for Peace at the G20 Summit in Indonesia.
24 February 2023
China proposes a 12-point ‘peace plan’ urging both sides to resume talks on the basis that “the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld”. The document does not acknowledge “Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty”, but may signal a willingness for more countries to engage with a peace process.
17 July 2023
Russia declines to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitated the export of agricultural products from Ukraine through the Black Sea.
15-16 June 2024
A Summit of Peace is hosted by Switzerland to discuss Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan. Russia is not invited to the summit. News on the summit is posted here.
Positions of the sides
Ukraine
In a statement to the G20 Summit in Indonesia on 15 November 2022, President Zelensky outlined the following 10 proposals for peace:
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- Radiation and nuclear safety.
- Food safety.
- Energy security.
- Release of all prisoners and deportees.
- Implementation of the UN charter and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the world order.
- Withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities.
- Restoring justice.
- Anti-ecocide.
- Prevention of escalation.
- Fixing the end of the war.
According to a news report, Ukraine’s position during the negotiations in March included:
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- Proposal 1: Ukraine proclaims itself a neutral state, promising to remain nonaligned with any blocs and refrain from developing nuclear weapons — in exchange for international legal guarantees. Possible guarantor states include Russia, Great Britain, China, the United States, France, Turkey, Germany, Canada, Italy, Poland, and Israel, and other states would also be welcome to join the treaty.
- Proposal 2: These international security guarantees for Ukraine would not extend to Crimea, Sevastopol, or certain areas of the Donbas. The parties to the agreement would need to define the boundaries of these regions or agree that each party understands these boundaries differently.
- Proposal 3: Ukraine vows not to join any military coalitions or host any foreign military bases or troop contingents. Any international military exercises would be possible only with the consent of the guarantor-states. For their part, these guarantors confirm their intention to promote Ukraine’s membership in the European Union.
- Proposal 4: Ukraine and the guarantor-states agree that (in the event of aggression, any armed attack against Ukraine, or any military operation against Ukraine) each of the guarantor-states, after urgent and immediate mutual consultations (which must be held within three days) on the exercise of the right to individual or collective self-defense(as recognized by Article 51 of the UN Charter) will provide (in response to and on the basis of an official appeal by Ukraine) assistance to Ukraine, as a permanently neutral state under attack. This aid will be facilitated through the immediate implementation of such individual or joint actions as may be necessary, including the closure of Ukraine’s airspace, the provision of necessary weapons, the use of armed force with the goal of restoring and then maintaining Ukraine’s security as a permanently neutral state.
- Proposal 5: Any such armed attack (any military operation at all) and all measures taken as a result will be reported immediately to the UN Security Council. Such measures will cease when the UNSC takes the measures needed to restore and maintain international peace and security.
- Proposal 6: Implementing protections against possible provocations, the agreement will regulate the mechanism for fulfilling Ukraine’s security guarantees based on the results of consultations between Ukraine and the guarantor-states.
- Proposal 7: The treaty provisionally applies from the date it is signed by Ukraine and all or most guarantor-states. The treaty enters force after (1) Ukraine’s permanently neutral status is approved in a nationwide referendum, (2) the introduction of the appropriate amendments in Ukraine’s Constitution, and (3) ratification in the parliaments of Ukraine and the guarantor-states.
- Proposal 8: The parties’ desire to resolve issues related to Crimea and Sevastopol shall be committed to bilateral negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a period of 15 years. Ukraine and Russia also pledge not to resolve these issues by military means and to continue diplomatic resolution efforts.
- Proposal 9: The parties shall continue consultations (with the involvement of other guarantor-states) to prepare and agree on the provisions of a Treaty on Security Guarantees for Ukraine, ceasefire modalities, the withdrawal of troops and other paramilitary formations, and the opening and ensuring of safe-functioning humanitarian corridors on an ongoing basis, as well as the exchange of dead bodies and the release of prisoners of war and interned civilians.
- Proposal 10: The parties consider it possible to hold a meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia for the purpose of signing a treaty and/or adopting political decisions regarding other remaining unresolved issues.
Russian Federation
According to a BBC interview with Turkish facilitators, President Putin raised the following key points in a telephone conversation with President Erdogan:
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- Permanent neutrality of Ukraine that excludes NATO membership;
- Disarmament of Ukraine to the point that it poses no threat to the Russian Federation;
- Better provision for Russian-language speakers in Ukraine
- De-nazification;
- Addressing Luhansk and Donetsk (presumably recognition of their independence);
- Acceptance that Crimea is part of the Russian Federation.
Narrative chronology
24 February 2022
- Russia invades Ukraine.
28 February 2022
- Ukrainian and Russian officials agreed to meet for talks at a venue on the Belarusian border with Ukraine, which was coordinated in a call by President Alexander Lukashenko to President Zelensky on 27 February.
- The office of President Zelensky reported in the morning that: “The delegation included Head of the Servant of the People faction Davyd Arakhamia, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podoliak, First Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Delegation to the TCG Andriy Kostin, MP Rustem Umerov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi.” According to Zelensky’s office, “The key issue of the talks is an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine”.
- The talks concluded without resolution of the conflict, but “[a] decision was made to immediately hold additional consultations in the capitals of the states. After that, the second round of negotiations of Ukrainian and Russian parties is to take place in the near future”.
- Later the same day, Zelensky appealed to the EU for immediate accession and signed Ukraine’s application for EU membership
- In a speech, Zelesky stated: “Europeans are aware that our soldiers are fighting for our country and, consequently, for the whole of Europe. For peace for all European countries, for the lives of children, for equality, for democracy. And this gives us the full right to do the following. We appeal to the European Union for Ukraine’s immediate accession under a new special procedure…I am confident that is fair. I am confident we deserve it. I am confident that all this is possible.”
- Regarding the prospect of subsequent talks, Zelensky said: “I do not yet feel the specifics from this composition and this first meeting. The only thing is that there is one percent that they will be able to meet again and talk about certain steps forward.” The President stressed the need for ‘a complete ceasefire’ before entering into a dialogue, saying, “But to take steps forward, someone needs to take steps towards each other.”
3 March 2022
- Agreement was reached as to the “joint provision of humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, as well as for the delivery of medicines and food to the places of the fiercest fighting with the possibility of temporary ceasefire for the period of evacuation in the sectors where it takes place. Not everywhere, but only in those places where there are humanitarian corridors, there may be a ceasefire during the evacuation”, per the Ukrainian President’s Office.
- Simultaneously, President Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the “tasks of the special military operation will be fulfilled in any event”, according to a Kremlin translation reported by Reuters.
- Talks concluded with expectation of a third round of talks to follow.
7 March 2022
- During the third round of talks in Belarus, the delegations “clarified the details of the functioning of humanitarian corridors to provide more effective assistance to people in the cities most affected by the Russian shelling”, per the Ukrainian President’s Office.
- “We have received some positive results in terms of logistics of humanitarian corridors. They will be amended, and we will receive more effective assistance to people who are currently suffering from the aggression of the Russian Federation”, said Mykhailo Podoliak, Adviser to the Head of the President’s Office.
- Intensive consultations will be continued on the basic, political bloc of settlement, in particular on the ceasefire and security guarantees.
- Reuters reported on 11 March that Russian officials, including President Putin, believed that ‘some progress’ had been made on peace talks:
- Putin said: “There are certain positive shifts, negotiators on our side tell me”.
- Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov said: “The Kremlin said on Friday the conflict in Ukraine would end when the West took action over Russia’s repeatedly raised concerns about the killing of civilians in eastern Ukraine and NATO enlargement eastwards. ‘We need to find a resolution to these two questions. Russia formulated concrete demands to Ukraine to resolve those questions.”
14 March 2022
- As a result of the fourth round of talks, “In Ukraine, 10 humanitarian corridors will be opened on March 14 at 9:00 am to evacuate people from settlements affected by shelling by the Russian army”. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister.
21 March 2022
- For the fifth round of talks, Ukraine aimed to reach an agreement to end the armed aggression and for withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak during a video meeting at the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House (UK). Yermak said: “I hope that these agreements will primarily provide for a ceasefire, withdrawal of Russian troops to the territory of February 23, 2022, as well as consultations and talks on other issues on the return of our territories, the return of full control over the territories within the internationally recognized borders to the Ukrainian authorities.”
29 March 2022
- In advance of the sixth round of talks, Russia announced that: “a draft presidential decree is being developed on retaliatory visa measures in connection with the unfriendly actions of a number of foreign states”, per Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. “This act will introduce a number of restrictions on entry into the territory of Russia. And at the same time, in order to prevent a threat to the life and health of citizens of third countries and stateless persons who ended up on the territory of Ukraine, the procedure for entering and staying on the territory of Russia was facilitated for them to safely return to their countries of citizenship.”
- Also leading up to this round of talks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he had instructed his deputy for humanitarian affairs, Martin Griffiths, to explore the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine to provide humanitarian assistance.
- In a speech concurrent to negotiations, President Zelensky said: “The situation has not become easier. The scale of the challenges has not diminished. The Russian army still has significant potential to continue attacks against our state. They still have a lot of equipment and enough people completely deprived of rights whom they can send to the cauldron of war. Therefore, we stay alert and do not reduce our defense efforts…It is on this basis that I consider the messages on the negotiation process, which is underway at various levels with representatives of the Russian Federation. The enemy is still in our territory. The shelling of our cities continues. Mariupol is blocked. Missile and air strikes do not stop. This is the reality. These are the facts.” He continued: “Yes, we can call positive the signals we hear from the negotiating platform. But these signals do not silence the explosion of Russian shells…Of course, Ukraine is willing to negotiate and will continue the negotiation process. To the extent that really depends on us. We expect to get the result. There must be real security for us, for our state, for sovereignty, for our people. Russian troops must leave the occupied territories. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be guaranteed. There can be no compromise on sovereignty and our territorial integrity. And there will not be any.”
- NYT reported of these talks that:
- “Ukrainian officials said their country was ready to declare itself permanently neutral — forsaking the prospect of joining NATO, a key Russian demand — and discuss Russian territorial claims in exchange for ‘security guarantees’ from a group of other nations. An aide to Ukraine’s president called the Russian delegation ‘constructive’, while Russia said it would ‘drastically’ scale back its military activity around Kyiv to ‘increase mutual trust'”.
- “Russian officials said, the goal will be to take more territory in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, where Russia has installed two separatist statelets that President Vladimir V. Putin recognized last month as independent, but that no other nation has formally acknowledged”.
- President Biden said he would not draw any conclusions about Russia’s intentions “until I see what their actions are”. Speaking after a White House meeting with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Biden added, “We’ll see if they follow through with what they are suggesting…In the meantime…we’re going to continue to keep strong the sanctions and will continue to provide the Ukrainian military with the capacity to defend themselves.”
3 April 2022
- Despite periodic talks between Russia and Ukraine, their positions on the status of Crimea and Eastern Donbas regions remain unchanged. According to Reuters, Russia’s chief negotiator, Valdimir Medinsky, asserted that Ukraine had agreed it would be neutral, not have nuclear weapons, not join a military bloc and refuse to host military bases. However, the two were still split on the question of territory.
4 April 2022
- President Zelensky stated during a conversation in Bucha with Ukrainian and international journalists that “peace in Ukraine is impossible without victory, and victory can be achieved through diplomacy in parallel with the fighting of the Ukrainian army.” He continued: “Every day, when our troops come in and deoccupy certain territories, you see what is happening. It’s very difficult to talk when you see what they’ve done here. Every day people are found there in barrels, in cellars, strangled, tortured. Therefore, we believe that if they have something to think with, they need to think faster…We strive for peace, we deserve it. And these people showed it, and the Armed Forces showed it. Peace is impossible without victory. Victory can be achieved in a diplomatic format in parallel with the fighting steps of our army. Our army demonstrates its fighting steps on a daily basis, but it is not easy. We do not want to lose millions of people. That is why there should be dialogue.”
12 April 2022
- There has been little progress in peace talks since the face-to-face meetings in Istanbul. Putin stated that they were at a “dead end” following Ukraine’s allegations of war crimes. In a report from Bloomberg, Ukraine is yet to receive an official response from Russia on its proposals at the peace talks in Istanbul.
15 April 2022
- Nine humanitarian corridors allowing for the evacuation of civilians, including a route from the city of Mariupol, have been confirmed by Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Iryna Vereshchuk.
17 April 2022
- The situation in Mariupol could lead to peace talks being scrapped according to the Ukrainian President. In a video address he stated, “The elimination of our troops, of our men [in Mariupol] will put an end to any negotiations.” The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, echoed the sentiment in an interview with CBS.
- Roman Abramovich travelled to Kyiv in an attempt to revive peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian billionaire, with longstanding ties to the Russian President, has been acting as an informal mediator since the war began following a request for his involvement by the Ukrainian President.
21 April 2022
- Ukraine has repeatedly asserted its willingness to negotiate with the Russians in Mariupol, offering the exchange of Russian prisoners for the safe passage of troops and civilians from the region. Ukrainian negotiator, Mykhalio Podolyak, stated that Ukraine would conduct these talks “without any conditions,” in a bid to “save our guys.” Ukrainian officials say that evacuations from Mariupol through agreed humanitarian corridors have been halted due to Russian shelling. President Zelensky says that 120,000 civilians are trapped in Mariupol.
- Putin ordered the Russian military to cancel its plans to take over the Mariupol Steel Plant where the last remaining Ukrainian troops are based.
- While the two sides announced an intention to exchange draft peace proposals in March, the Ukrainian President denies receiving any draft of a peace proposal from the Kremlin. Talks appear to have stalled.
22 April 2022
- Russia claims victory in Mariupol.
- Ukrainian officials claim evidence of mass graves near Mariupol to support allegations of war crimes.
25 April 2022
- In an interview with Russia Channel 1 TV, Lavrov warns the West not to underestimate the risk of nuclear conflict over Ukraine. He asserts that NATO is, “in essence,” engaged in a proxy war with Russia by supplying Ukraine with weaponry. Russia’s Foreign Minister reinforced that negotiations with Ukraine would continue despite their belief that “the Kyiv government’s position is set in Washington and other Western capitals.”
26 April 2022
- António Guterres meets directly with Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov to discuss proposals for humanitarian assistance and the opening of ‘safe corridors’ to facilitate evacuations conflict zones, particularly Mariupol. Russia agrees ‘in principle.’ This would take the form of a Humanitarian Contact Group, comprising Russia, Ukraine, and the UN “with local cessations of hostilities, and to guarantee that they are actually effective.”
- Following the meeting Guterres reported that, “it is clear that there are two different positions on what is happening in Ukraine.” He reinforced UN calls for political dialogue towards a solution but acknowledged that this has so far not happened.
- Putin expresses willingness to engage in a diplomatic settlement: “I would like to inform you that although the military operation is underway, we are still hoping to reach an agreement on the diplomatic track. We are conducting talks. We have not abandoned them.” A full statement of the President’s address to Guterres can be read here.
- Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, holds a call with Putin emphasizing the importance of Russia and Ukraine continuing high-level talks like those hosted in Istanbul a month earlier. He proposes that the next talks be held at the “leader level,” between Putin and Zelensky directly.
27 April 2022
- UK Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, calls for further support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war effort in order to ‘push Russia out of the whole of Ukraine’.
28 April 2022
- UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, visits Kyiv, condemning the ‘evil’ war and urging Russia to cooperate with the ICC investigation. Heavy Russian bombardment continues during Guterres’ visit. Hailed by Time as the ‘the boldest attack on the capital since Moscow’s forces retreated weeks ago.’
- Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor at the ICC, states that he favours neither Russia nor Ukraine in the search for the truth.
2 May 2022
- There is growing speculation amongst US and Western officials that Russia could formally declare war on Ukraine on 9 May, drawing on the national significance of the day to facilitate a mass mobilisation. The Kremlin has dismissed these suggestions as ‘nonsense’, and continues to refer to the offensive as a ‘special military operation’ aimed at ‘denazification’.
3 May 2022
- In a speech delivered to the Ukrainian Parliament, the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, stated that there should be no peace settlement against the will of the Ukrainian people and gave support to the view that Ukraine could aim to win the war.
6 May 2022
- The evacuation of civilians from the Azvostal Steel Works continues as Russia agrees to implement a three-day ceasefire. However, Ukraine claims that Russian forces have breached the perimeter of the budling, which has become the epicentre of the battle for Mariupol.
- Speaking at an online forum for Chatham House, Volodymyr Zelensky says that not all diplomatic bridges are broken between the two countries. He asserts that Russia must first fall back to the territory it held before 23 February if peace talks are to succeed.
9 May 2022
- During Victory Day celebrations in Russia, President Putin defends the decision to send Russian forces into Ukraine but makes no new announcements on the conduct of the conflict.
- In his speech on Europe Day, French President, Emmanuel Macron, states that it will take decades for Ukraine to join the European Union and proposes an alternative plan for a closer relationship with the European short of full membership based on a new ‘European Political Community’.
11 May 2022
- UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, agrees to mutual security guarantees with Finland and Sweden, committing the United Kingdom to offer military assistance in the event of an invasion.
12 May 2022
- Finland’s President and Prime Minister sign a statement of intent to make a formal application for entry to the NATO alliance. Russia threatens to retaliate.
16 May 2022
- President Putin warns that Russia would respond if Sweden and Finland pursue NATO membership. Speaking to a summit of leaders in the Kremlin, he stated that “the expansion of military infrastructure to this territory will produce our response.”
17 May 2022
- The ICC Prosecutor announces the largest field deployment of forensics and investigative teams to Ukraine.
18 May 2022
- Final surrender of Ukrainians at the Azvostal steel plant marks the fall of Mariupol to Russian troops. Ukraine is keen to conduct a prisoner exchange for those captured.
- Finland and Sweden formally submit a joint bid for membership of NATO, breaking their historical neutrality. This marks a significant shift in Europe’s security balance, particularly since Finland shares a border with Russia.
- On peace talks, both Ukrainian and Russian officials appear to indicate that they have stagnated. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrei Rudenko, states that Kyiv has “practically withdrawn from the negotiation process.” The presidential advisor in Ukraine, Mykhailio Podolyak, asserted that talks were “on hold”.
20 May 2022
- Italy presents a four-point peace plan for the end of the conflict in Ukraine to the UN Secretary General:
- Point one refers to a ceasefire and the demilitarisation of the front lines
- Point two is that Ukraine would be a neutral country, with security to be determined via a peace conference.
- Point three is a bilateral agreement between Russia and the Ukraine to clarify the territorial aspects of contention, Crimea and Donbas, as well as dealing with cultural and language rights and guaranteeing free movement of people, goods and capital. It suggests that these regions have near-complete autonomy but as a part of Ukraine.
- Point four proposes a multilateral peace agreement between the European Union and Russia, whereby the withdrawal of Russian troops
21 May 2022
- President Zelensky asserts that the war with Russia can only be definitively resolved through “diplomacy” at the negotiating table.
22 May 2022
- The Ukrainian government hardens its position and asserts that it will not accept a ceasefire deal with Russia that involves giving up territory. According to Ukrainian Presidential adviser, Mykhaylo Podolyak, such concessions would enable Moscow to commence a larger and bloodier offensive in the long term.
25 May 2022
- President Zelensky gives a strongly-worded online address rejecting any suggestion that Ukraine should offer territorial concessions to end the war with Russia. This is partly in response to the suggestion by Henry Kissinger at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Ukraine should let Russia keep Crimea, following its annexation in 2014.
26 May 2022
- Sergei Lavrov dismisses the peace plan proposed by Italy, with a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry deeming it a ‘fantasy’. Maria Zakharova said, “You can’t supply Ukraine with weapons with one hand and come up with plans for a peaceful resolution of the situation with the other.”
28 May 2022
- In a conversation with Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz urged that Russia holds “direct serious negotiations” with Zelensky. However, the Russian leader warned that the continued delivery of western weapons to Ukraine threatened these negotiations and “risked further destabilization of the situation”.
- Hopes for diplomacy have waned in recent weeks as a sentiment emerges amongst Ukrainians that agreeing to a negotiated settlement would give time to Russia to regroup ahead of further attacks.
4 June 2022
- David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian negotiator, stated that negotiations with Russia can only continue once Ukraine’s position is “strengthened” by the supply of advanced weaponry from Western allies. He describes the current state of peace talks with Russia as a case of “one step forward, two steps back.”
7 June 2022
- Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov arrives in Turkey for talks to unblock grain exports from Ukraine amid a pending global food crisis. The negotiations, mediated by Turkey, seek the opening of a security corridor to ship Ukrainian grain.
- The Russian Parliament votes to exit the European Court of Human Rights.
- The Associated Press reports that in a news conference on Monday, Zelensky stated that peace talks with Russia were currently at ‘level zero’.
8 June 2022
- Turkish and Russian foreign ministers fail to reach a breakthrough in talks on the shipping of grain and seed stuck in Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. UN Secretary General, António Guterres, stated that the UN is pursuing a deal that would allow grain exports from Ukraine through the Black Sea and unimpeded access to world markets.
- The remains of 50 dead soldiers were exchanged by both sides, making a total of 210 exchanged since the beginning of June 2022.
9 June 2022
- Two UK citizens and a Morrocan citizen were sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk for being mercenaries.
10 June 2022
- Representatives of the UK Government and the United Nations condemn the death sentences imposed on UK citizens for being mercenaries by a court in Donetsk.
11 June 2022
- In an unannounced visit to Kyiv, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, praised the progress made on Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union and discussed funding for reconstruction of Ukraine. She stated that her executive would finalise its opinion “by the end of next week” on whether Ukraine should be a candidate country to join the EU.
13 June 2022
- Amnesty International releases a report on indiscriminate attacks by Russian forces, calling for justice processes to be as comprehensive as possible.
14 June 2022
- The remains of 64 Ukrainian soldiers who died in the Mariupol steel plant and of 56 Russian soldiers have been repatriated in a third exchange of bodies between the parties.
16 June 2022
- The leaders of France, Germany and Italy held meetings in Kiev with President Zelensky to smooth tensions over what the Ukrainian President has called ‘lukewarm support’ for the defence of Ukraine
- In an interview with the BBC, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the reasons for Russia’s ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine stating that: “We declared a special military operation because we had absolutely no other way of explaining to the West that dragging Ukraine into NATO was a criminal act”. The full interview and an edited transcript are available. In another interview with TASS, Lavrov stated that Russia was satisfied with Ukraine’s negotiating position in late March ‘as a basis for further work’.
17 June 2022
- The European Commission endorsed Ukraine’s bid to become a candidate for membership in the EU. EC President, Ursula von der Leyen, noted that further work needs to be done including reforms on rule of law, oligarchs, human rights and tackling corruption. The Commission also recommended Moldova, while making Georgia’s candidacy subject to a number of priority reforms.
- UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made a surprise visit to Ukraine to express the UK’s continued support for the Ukrainian war effort and to commit to further military aid. His statement at the press conference is available on the government website.
- During an interview, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that it is absolutely necessary to continue talking to President Putin and to maintain that “there will be no dictate(d) peace” and that withdrawal of troops from Ukrainian territory is a necessary condition.
18 June 2022
- Five Ukrainian civilians were exchanged in an agreed swap for five Russians.
- Kyiv’s chief negotiator, David Arakhamia, stated in an interview with Voice of America that Ukraine plans to resume peace talks with Russia by August when it will be in a better position to negotiate.
20 June 2022
- President Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine was engaged in ‘complex negotiations’ to free ports from a Russian blockade that continues to block grain exports. Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, described the blockade as a ‘real war crime’. Russia denies responsibility for the food crisis and blames Western sanctions.
21 June 2022
- On a visit to Ukraine, US Attorney-General Merrick Garland announced the launch of a War Crimes Accountability Team, led by Eli Rosenbaum, to “centralize and strengthen the Justice Department’s ongoing work to hold accountable those who have committed war crimes and other atrocities in Ukraine” and to “play an integral role in the Department’s ongoing investigation of potential war crimes over which the U.S. possesses jurisdiction”.
23 June 2022
- In an expedited process, EU leaders approved Ukraine’s candidate status for joining the European Union along with Moldova.
26 June 2022
- Canadian legislation has been passed that grants new powers to seize and sell off frozen assets owned by individuals and entities on the Canadian sanctions list. The current policy is to use the seized assets to assist victims of the conflict.
27 June 2022
- In a statement in support of Ukraine, G7 Leaders pledged that they would stand with Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’.
- There are reports that Russia has defaulted on debt obligations for the first time since 1998. The Kremlin denied the reports.
28 June 2022
- Turkey agrees to lift objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO in return for commitments on arms exports, fighting terrorism and extradition requests.
- G7 Leaders issue a final communique of its June 2022 Summit that reiterates its support for Ukraine, and sets out commitments to boost military aid and introduce measures to counteract the effects of the Ukraine conflict.
29 June 2022
- US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, in an interview with NPR states that Putin has been unwilling to engage in Ukraine talks. He stated that: “When a negotiating table does emerge, which at some point it will, they [Ukraine] have the strongest possible hand to play at the negotiating table”
- NATO unveils a new Strategic Concept that identifies Russia as its most significant and direct threat and an independent Ukraine as vital for the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area. China is also identified for its coercive policies and partnership with Russia as a challenge to NATO interests and values. In the Madrid Statement, NATO also sets out its commitment to “step up political and practical support to our close partner Ukraine”.
- Ukraine announces agreement of the largest prisoner exchange of the conflict so far, including 144 soldiers, dozens of whom had defended Mariupol.
30 June 2022
- The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it has severed diplomatic relations with Syria following the country’s official recognition of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics within Ukraine’s borders.
- The European Court of Human Rights has issued interim measures instructing Russia to hold off from carrying out the capital punishment imposed against two British citizens for alleged mercenary activity.
2 July 2022
- Ukraine chief negotiator, Mykhailo Podolyak claims that recent Russian attacks on residential areas are part of a deliberate strategy by Russia to force Ukraine to the negotiating table.
5 July 2022
- NATO formally begins the process for Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, with members signing the protocols of accession.
8 July 2022
- President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia had barely started its military campaign in Ukraine. He insisted that, “at the same time, we don’t reject peace talks. But those who reject them should know that the further it goes, the harder it will be for them to negotiate with us.”
9 July 2022
- In an interview with CNN, Zelensky stated that Ukraine will not cede territory for peace with Russia.
11 July 2022
- European countries are concerned that the upcoming outage of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline for annual maintenance will be extended due to the conflict. If Russia uses the opportunity to completely cut off gas supply, this may spark rationing and chaos across the Continent. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed claims that Russia would use oil and gas to exert political pressure.
13 July 2022
- Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, stated that “there is nothing to discuss” on the subject of peace talks with Russia: “Currently, there are no talks between Russia and Ukraine, because of the position of Russia and its continued aggression against our country.” He added: “The objective of Ukraine in this war … is to liberate our territories, restore our territorial sovereignty in the east and south of Ukraine … this is the end point of our negotiating position.”
14 July 2022
- Turkey has announced a deal, to be signed next week, for Ukraine to recommence the export of grain through Black Sea ports after talks between Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the UN. Antonio Guterres said the talks amounted to a “critical step forward.”
- 45 countries signed a political declaration at The Hague to coordinate investigations into alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
15 July 2022
- A senior Russian official said Moscow would respond positively if Kyiv is ready to resume peace negotiations, but Ukraine must accept “territorial realities”.
- Mykhailo Podolyak, head of Ukraine’s negotiating team, said that Russian forces were attacking Ukrainian cities to enforce “peace at any price”.
22 July 2022
- Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. The UN Secretary-General described the deal as a ‘beacon of hope’.
1 August 2022
- The Black Sea Grain Initiative facilitates the departure of the first commercial ship to leave Odessa since 26 February 2022. Implementation of the agreement is being coordinated and monitored by the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC).
7 August 2022
- President Zelensky warns Russia that Ukraine will rule out peace talks if referendums are held in separatist-held territories in the Donbas region.
19 August 2022
- In a statement, President Putin announces that he has agreed to provide UN investigators with “the necessary assistance” to access the Zaporizhzhia nuclear site. However, Russia continues to reject calls for demilitarisation of the site.
22 August 2022
- Russia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Gennady Gatilov, stated that, while the two sides were ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement in April 2022, the United States and NATO pushed Ukraine to reject the deal. Now, Gatilov does “not see any possibility for diplomatic contacts” and “the more the conflict goes on, the more difficult it will be to have a diplomatic solution”.
23 August 2022
- A Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern at “reports that the Russian Federation and affiliated armed groups in Donetsk are planning – possibly in the coming days – to try Ukrainian prisoners of war in what is being labelled an ‘international tribunal’ in Mariupol”.
27 August 2022
- Former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, stated that Moscow would not stop its military campaign in Ukraine even if Kyiv formally renounced its aspirations to join NATO.
1 September 2022
- A technical mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency made its first inspection of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine and will maintain a presence at the site.
6 September 2022
- According to Ukrainian officials, while Ukraine is seeking to establish a criminal tribunal to try President Putin and his ‘inner circle’ for the crime of aggression, its allies remain reluctant to support such a venture with a view to future diplomatic relations with Russia.
7 September 2022
- The UN Secretary-General has called for a demilitarised zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. It would involve the withdrawal of Russian troops and a commitment by Ukraine to keep its forces outside the zone. President Zelensky offered qualified support and suggested a UN peacekeeping force.
- President Putin threatened to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Deal because “grain leaving Ukraine was being exported not to poor countries, but instead to the EU”.
14 September 2022
- Reports have emerged that, prior to the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, President Putin rejected a potential deal with Ukraine “to satisfy Russia’s demand that Ukraine stay out of NATO” with a view towards achieving territorial annexations. Kremlin officials have denied this.
16 September 2022
- While attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan, President Putin vows to “press his attack on Ukraine” despite the recent success of Ukrainian counterattacks. He maintains that “the ‘liberation’ of Ukraine’s entire eastern Donbas region remained Russia’s main military goal and that he sees no need to revise it”.
- During the SCO summit, India and China expressed concerns to President Putin about the ongoing conflict. This was the first in-person meeting between Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping since the invasion.
20 September 2022
- Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that his impression from recent talks with President Putin was that “he wanted to end this as soon as possible”. President Erdogan continues to call for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and pointed to an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to exchange around 200 hostages as a ‘significant step’.
- Four occupied separatist territories within Ukraine announce plans to hold urgent referendums on joining Russia. The Ukrainian foreign minister stated that these “sham ‘referendums’ will not change anything” and the President’s office suggested that they would destroy the possibility of peace talks. Western states have responded by dismissing these plans as ‘illegitimate’.
21 September 2022
- President Putin ordered a partial military mobilisation of reservists to bolster Russian forces in Ukraine and threatened to “use all available means at his disposal” to protect Russia.
- European countries, except for Hungary, have requested the UN Human Rights Council to appoint a “special rapporteur or independent monitor to ‘collect, examine and assess’ information on the situation within Russia and produce a report for the council in a year”.
22 September 2022
- After Putin’s threats to “use all available means”, the UN Secretary-General has stated that consideration of nuclear conflict is ‘totally unacceptable’ and expressed deep concerns over plans to organise ‘referendums’ in occupied areas of Ukraine. He reiterated that: “Any annexation of a State’s territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the United Nations Charter and of international law”.
23 September 2022
- Voting began in four occupied regions to decide on whether to join the Russian Federation. There are allegations of coercion. In a statement, G7 Leaders have “strongly condemn[ed] the sham referenda”.
27 September 2022
- Russia has claimed that the results of the so-called ‘referendums’ held in four occupied Ukrainian regions support Russian annexation.
- States supporting the Ukraine’s war effort have made statements condemning the ‘sham referendums’. A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan, a close ally of the Russian Federation, has also stated that his country will not recognize the results. The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, warned that the referendums complicate efforts at a diplomatic solution.
- The United States has proposed a resolution to the UN Security Council condemning Russia over the so-called referendums. The US Ambassador to the United Nations said that the US would bring the vote to the UN General Assembly if Russia “chooses to shield itself from accountability”.
30 September 2022
- Russia vetoes a UN Security Council resolution condemning its annexation of four Ukrainian regions after ‘sham referendums’. Brazil, China, Gabon and India abstained from voting.
- In response to the annexation, President Zelensky announced that the Ukraine will submit an accelerated application to join NATO. He has also stated that “Ukraine will not conduct any negotiations with Russia as long as Putin is the president of the Russian Federation”.
- President Putin has signed an accord that annexes four occupied regions of Ukraine in response to alleged ‘referendum’ results. Putin also vowed to “protect out lands using all available means” and invited the Ukraine back to negotiations to agree a ceasefire.
4 October 2022
- President Zelensky signed a decree that leaves room for peace talks in the future, but states that negotiations with the Kremlin, while President Putin remains in office, are ‘impossible’.
7 October 2022
- The UN Human Rights Council has voted to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Russian Federation. This is the first time that the Human Rights Council has mandated a special rapporteur to investigate a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
10 October 2022
- Following the sabotage attack on the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Belarus has agreed to form a joint military task force with the Russian Federation to be deployed on the Belarussian border with Ukraine. President Lukashenko stated that this was in response to “planned strikes on the territory of Belarus” by Ukraine. The force poses a direct threat to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
11 October 2022
- At a G7 Summit, President Zelensky stated that there were no plans to mount attacks against the territory of Belarus. To “completely remove this provocation”, Zelensky offered to establish a “mission of international observers” to monitor security situation at the border.
12 October 2022
- The UN General Assembly voted overwhelming to pass a resolution condemning the illegal annexation of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. 143 countries voted in favour of the resolution and 35 states abstained, including China and India.
19 October 2022
- President Putin signed an order imposing martial law in the recently annexed regions of Ukraine, granting the governors of those regions emergency powers.
20 October 2022
- The Black Sea Grain Deal is due to expire in a month and negotiations on its extension are ongoing. Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Gennady Gatilov, stated that “I wouldn’t say that much has been achieved as a result of the latest consultations. The dialogue is continuing”. Russia is concerned that Western sanctions are “hamstringing its own exports of grain and fertilizer, even to poor countries that need the supplies”.
25 October 2022
- The Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party has withdrawn a letter to the White House that ‘questions President Biden’s Ukraine policy’ and urges contact with Russia to help initiate settlement negotiations.
29 October 2022
- Russia has officially suspended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Deal after accusing Ukraine of launching a massive drone attack on its naval fleet in the Crimea, with the alleged involvement of British troops.
2 November 2022
- Russia has resumed participation in the Black Sea Grain Deal, allowing the export of grain from Ukraine through a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea.
- The UN Security Council has overwhelmingly rejected a draft Russian resolution to establish a commission of inquiry into “claims that Ukraine and the United States are carrying out ‘military biological’ activities that violate the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons”.
6 November 2022
- According to unnamed sources, the Washington Post reported that the US is privately encouraging Ukraine to be open to peace talks.
7 November 2022
- Top security advisor to the United States, Jake Sullivan, has been engaged in confidential discussions with Russian counterparts concerning the containment of the war, and against the use of weapons of mass destruction.
8 November 2022
- President Zelensky has softened the Ukraine’s stance on negotiation with Russia stating that he is open to peace talks on Ukraine’s terms. His conditions for dialogue included the return of all occupied territories, compensation for war damage and prosecution of war crimes.
10 November 2022
- Amnesty International accuses Russia of committing war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity by forcibly transferring and deporting civilians from Ukraine.
12 November 2022
- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Vershinin, stated that negotiations on extension of the Black Sea Grain Deal will need to continue. Russia insists on unhindered access of its food and fertilizer products to world markets. The deal is due to expire on 19 November.
13 November 2022
- In an interview at the G20 Summit in Indonesia, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen, has said that it is likely that some sanctions against Russia would remain in place after any potential cessation of hostilities. “I suppose in the context of some peace agreement”, she said, “adjustment of sanctions is possible and could be appropriate”.
14 November 2022
- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on establishing an international compensation mechanism for damage, loss, and injury arising from the conflict, as well as a registry to document evidence and claims. 94 countries voted in favour, 14 were against, and 73 abstained.
15 November 2022
- In a statement to the G20 Summit in Indonesia, President Zelensky outlined Ukraine’s 10-point proposal for peace. He stated: “It is not worth offering Ukraine compromises with conscience, sovereignty, territory and independence …. We will not allow Russia to wait, build up its forces, and then start a new series of terror and global destabilisation. There will be no Minsk-3, which Russia will violate immediately after the agreement.”
- In response to President Zelensky’s 10-point proposal, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that “all the problems are on the Ukrainian side, which categorically refuses any negotiations and puts forward terms that are obviously unrealistic and inadequate.”
16 November 2022
- The G20 Summit Leaders have agreed a joint declaration stating that “most members strongly condemns the war in Ukraine”, and reiterating UNGA Resolution ES-11/1 which “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demands its complete and unconditional withdrawal”.
23 November 2022
- European Parliament has declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism for committing war crimes and using means of terrorism. While it cannot officially make the designation, the Parliament calls on the EU and member states to set up appropriate legal frameworks to do so in order to further isolate Russia internationally, and to lay the groundwork for further sanctions.
30 November 2022
- European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that the EU would seek to establish a “specialised court, backed by the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute Russia’s crime of aggression”.
2 December 2022
- Responding to President Biden’s statement that the West remains open to a diplomatic solution if Russia withdraws from Ukraine, the Kremlin stated that it remains open to negotiations on condition that the West recognises its recent annexations.
14 December 2022
- The Kremlin has stated that it had not received any proposals for a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine.
21 December 2022
- President Putin announced a plan to expand and strengthen the Russian military “to bolster the forces that have lost momentum and many soldiers in the war in Ukraine”.
22 December 2022
- In a surprise visit to the United States, President Zelensky met with President Biden in the White House as a sign of solidarity. In an historic address to a joint sitting of the US Congress, President Zelensky appealed for a strengthening of the alliance and further military aid, and reiterated his commitment to the 10-point peace proposal announced at the G20 Summit. During the visit, President Biden announced a new US$1.8 billion military aid package which would include the Patriot air defence system.
- According to a Wall Street Journal report, President Zelensky is expected to unveil a more detailed peace plan in February 2023 based on the 10-point proposals from his G20 address.
- In response to President Zelensky’s visit to the US, the Kremlin has warned that increased military aid to the Ukraine would simply aggravate and prolong the conflict. President Putin also stated that “Russia wants an end to the war in Ukraine and that this would inevitably involve a diplomatic solution”, and he blamed Ukraine for refusing to engage in serious negotiations. President Putin used the term ‘war’, perhaps marking a departure from his ‘special military operation’ language.
27 December 2022
- Peace talks remain unlikely in the near future according to a CNN report, despite statements by both sides that they remain open to negotiations. The Institute for the Study of War argues that “Putin’s discussions of negotiations have focused on putative discussions with the West rather than with Ukraine, and reflect his continual accusations that Ukraine is merely a Western pawn with no real agency’; and that Russia has ‘a deliberate information campaign aimed at misleading the West to push Ukraine into making preliminary concessions”.
28 December 2022
- Reuters has issued an explainer on President Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan.
5 January 2023
- Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, called for both sides to observe a Christmas truce. Seemingly in response, President Putin has ordered that a 36-hour ceasefire be implemented along the Ukrainian front line for Orthodox Christmas, but Ukraine remains sceptical and has refused to take part.
- In a call with President Putin, President Erdogan of Turkey stated that peace efforts should be supported by a unilateral ceasefire and “a vision for a fair solution”.
6 January 2023
- The Christmas truce declared by President Putin has been broken by exchange of artillery fire.
19 January 2023
- In a non-binding resolution, the EU Parliament voted 472-19 to call on member states to back the creation of a special military tribunal to judge on the crime of aggression in relation to the invasion of Ukraine.
20 January 2023
- In the lead up to the second meeting of Western defence ministers at Germany’s Ramstein Airbase since the start of the war, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has joined other calls for a significant increase in arms supply, and particularly tanks, in support of Ukraine’s war effort, and the threat of renewed Russian offensives in the near future. Speaking on the side-lines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, he stated: “If we want a negotiated peaceful solution tomorrow we need to provide more weapons today.”
- While agreement was reached at the Ramstein meeting of defence ministers for an enhanced package of arms supply to Ukraine, there was a failure to reach an agreement on the supply of tanks, particularly due to German resistance to the supply of German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks.
25 January 2023
- An impasse on the supply of tanks has been resolved, with Germany announcing its intention to supply Leopard 2 battle tanks, and the United States announcing the supply of Abrams tanks after an initial refusal due to operational difficulty.
30 January 2023
- Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, has suggested that Finland’s NATO bid may be approved before that of Sweden. Turkey accuses Sweden of failing to do enough to crack down on groups it considers to be ‘terrorist’, and President Erdogan has warned Sweden not to expect support after the burning of a copy of the Quran in protests outside the Turkish embassy in Sweden.
2 February 2023
- The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that a new International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine would be established to collect evidence and would be embedded within the joint investigative team established last year by Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine.
3 February 2023
- After the 24th Joint EU-Ukraine Summit, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and President Zelensky released a joint statement reiterating the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine, and outlining steps to progress Ukraine’s candidacy for EU accession. While commending Ukraine’s progress to meet reform conditions, no fast track for membership was offered.
4 February 2023
- Ukraine and Russia agreed another prisoner swap, which included 116 Ukrainians, as well as 63 Russians with certain special category prisoners, whose release was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.
6 February 2023
- Former Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, has remarked that he was involved in mediation attempts in the first weeks of the conflict and secured a promise from President Putin that he would not kill President Zelensky.
7 February 2023
- A nationwide survey by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation suggests there is now widespread opposition to any negotiated peace settlement with President Putin. Only 8% of the Ukrainian population would be prepared to accept the ongoing Russian occupation of Crimea to end the war, and only 8.5% are still in favour of geopolitical neutrality for Ukraine.
20 February 2023
- In a surprise visit to Ukraine on the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, US President Biden expressed “unwavering support” for Ukraine’s war effort. The White House released a statement to mark the occasion.
23 February 2023
- On the eve of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the UN General Assembly has passed another resolution (141 in favour, 32 abstaining, 7 against) condemning Russia’s actions, demanding “that the Russian Federation immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders”, and calling “for a cessation of hostilities”.
24 February 2023
- On the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, China has proposed a 12-point ‘peace plan’ which sets out China’s position on the ‘Ukraine crisis’. The document urges both sides to resume peace talks on the basis that “the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries must be effectively upheld”. However, it does not acknowledge “Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty”, and so fails to address the details of key issues relating to territory and withdrawal. Nevertheless, China’s position paper may signal a willingness for more countries to engage with a peace process in the second year of the conflict.
- President Zelensky stated that he is open to China’s peace proposal and plans to meet with President Xi Jinping. “As far as I know, China respects historical integrity,” he said, adding: “Let’s work China on this point. Why not?” Nevertheless, he remains sceptical of negotiations with President Putin.
- A spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia welcomes the peace plan and remains open to peace negotiations.
26 February 2023
- In a press statement, the US State Department has reaffirmed that: “the United States does not and never will recognize Russia’s purported annexation of the peninsula. Crimea is Ukraine”. US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, also stated that it was up to Ukraine to define the terms of any victory: “The critical thing right now is that they need to take back the territory in the South and the East that they are currently focused on, and we need to give them the tools to be able to do that.” Beyond that immediate goal, “[t]he question of Crimea, and the question of what happens down the road, is something that we will come to.”
28 February 2023
- In a visit to Helsinki, NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that Ukraine would join NATO in the long-term, but that the immediate goal was to ensure Ukraine’s independence.
4 March 2023
- European Commission President, von der Leyen, announced the signing of a new agreement to establish the International Centre for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine through Eurojust.
13 March 2023
- Russia has agreed to allow a short-term extension of the Black Sea Grain Deal for only 60 days. The Russian delegation continues to object to restrictions on Russian agricultural products.
- The ICC is to issue its first arrest warrants in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It will formally open to war crimes cases against Russian citizens accused of the mass abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children
15 March 2023
- The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, set up at the request of the UN Human Rights Council, has released a report that sets out details of a “wide range” of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Russian troops, including indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilian infrastructure, use of explosive weapons in populated areas, wilful killings of civilians, unlawful confinements, torture, rape, and unlawful transfers and deportations of children. The report also notes a “small number” of apparent violations by Ukrainian forces.
18 March 2023
- The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for President Putin for his alleged responsibility in the abductions of children from Ukraine. This is the first time that an arrest warrant has been issued for a political leader of one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
- The Black Sea Grain Deal has been extended, but there was initial uncertainty over the length of the extension period. Russia subsequently notified all parties that the extension is only for 60 days and that it will not consider another extension if its concerns over the export of Russian agricultural products are addressed.
20 March 2023
- Chinese President, Xi Jinping, arrived in Moscow for a three-day state visit with President Putin to discuss China’s ‘position paper’ on Ukraine and to sign further agreements strengthening bilateral cooperation. The Chinese have also reached out to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to urge talks on a political solution.
21 March 2023
- According to President Zelenskiy, Kyiv suggested to China that it join the Ukrainian peace formula to end Russia’s war, but is still waiting on a response.
23 March 2023
- A new joint needs assessment by the Ukraine Government, World Bank, European Commission, and United Nations, estimates reconstruction and recovery costs for Ukraine have increased to US $411 billion (equivalent of €383 billion).
- Finland has signed off legislation that formalises its entry into NATO. Finland’s membership is expected to be ratified by Hungary and Turkey – while both remain obstacles to Sweden joining the alliance.
24 March 2023
- Deputy Head of Russia’s Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, stated that Russia wants to create demilitarised buffer zones around annexed territories, and that it may be necessary to capture more territory if these zones cannot be established.
25 March 2023
- President Putin stated that Russia has agreed with Belarus to station nuclear weapons in its territory. He claimed that this was not contrary to nuclear non-proliferation treaties.
2 April 2023
- As part of a counter-offensive plan, Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, has set out the steps to be taken for Crimea, once it has been reclaimed from Russia.
4 April 2023
- After ratification of its membership by Turkey and Hungary, Finland has become the 31st member of the NATO alliance.
6 April 2023
- In meeting with French President Macron and EC President von der Leyen, President Xi Jinping has stated that China’s top priority is to push for a ceasefire and to end the conflict in Ukraine, and that he is ready to speak with President Zelensky at the right moment.
8 April 2023
- Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has suggested that Ukraine should be willing to negotiate over Crimea for the sake of peace. Ukraine rejected this suggestion.
13 April 2023
- Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova have signed cooperation agreements after a trilateral meeting in Bucharest on ways to strengthen security in the Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that the Black Sea Grain Deal may be nearly over unless progress can be made to lift barriers ‘on payments, logistics and insurance’ for the shipment of Russian food and fertilizer exports.
15 April 2023
- During a visit to China in which he is seeking to bring together a group of countries willing to broker peace in Ukraine, Brazilian President Lula told reporters in Beijing that ‘[t]he United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace; the European Union needs to start talking about peace so that we can convince Putin and Zelensky that peace is in the interest of everyone and that war is only interesting, for now, to the two of them’. In response, the White House criticised Brazil for parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda.
16 April 2023
- In the lead up to Ukraine’s participation in the next NATO conference in July, President Zelensky has called for effective security guarantees for Ukraine from Western nations.
19 April 2023
- Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, praised the framework proposed by China and endorsed by Brazil for ending the conflict in Ukraine. Lavrov stated that Russia is interested in ending the conflict as soon as possible, but he blamed the West for the lack of progress because it cannot accept the full integration of Crimea into Russian territory. The Ukraine foreign ministry criticised the Brazilian peace efforts for giving equal weight to the victim and the aggressor.
21 April 2023
- After an historic visit to Kyiv, the first since the Russian invasion, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg invited Ukraine to the NATO summit in July and stated to reporters that all NATO members agree that Ukraine will eventually join the alliance. He did not offer a timeline, but said the focus now is on ensuring victory. President Zelensky described the visit as a ‘new chapter’ in Ukraine’s relations with NATO and said it was important that Ukraine receive a formal invitation to join and a timeline.
24 April 2023
- After the Chinese Ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, made comments that cast doubt on sovereignty of former Soviet states, the Chinese foreign ministry clarified that “China respects the status of the former Soviet republics as sovereign countries after the Soviet Union’s dissolution.”
- In a letter to President Putin, UN Secretary-General Guterres proposed a “way forward aimed at the improvement, extension and expansion” of the Black Sea Grain Deal. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that negotiations over the deal were at a deadlock.
26 April 2023
- Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke to President Zelensky over the telephone for the first time since the invasion. According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Xi Jinping stated that “mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political basis of China-Ukrainian relations” and that China’s “core position” on the Ukraine conflict is to “promote peace and talks.” According to President Zelensky, the Chinese President also expressed support for the Black Sea Grain initiative.
27 April 2023
- President Putin signed an executive order giving residents in annexed territories a route to Russian citizenship. Those who do not take up Russian citizenship, or do not legalise their status, will potentially face deportation.
4 May 2023
- At a speech in the Hague, President Zelensky renewed calls for an international tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes, and particularly the crime of aggression. The speech comes at a time when international support for such a tribunal is growing.
6 May 2023
- Despite the recent UN proposal, talks between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations failed to reach an agreement on the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The grain deal will officially end on 18 May and Russia is already refusing to authorise new shipments from Ukraine unless restrictions on payments, logistics, and insurance for its agricultural and fertilizer products are removed.
9 May 2023
- In an interview with El Pais, UN Secretary-General stated that “At this moment peace is not possible in Ukraine. Both sides believe they can win.”
16 May 2023
- Six African leaders, from Zambia, Senegal, the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Egypt, and South Africa, plan to send a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia as soon as possible to help find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
17 May 2023
- Agreement on extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative for another two months has been secured under the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations. Russia warned that this will be the last extension if its concerns on barriers to its food and fertilizer products are not resolved.
- The Council of Europe agreed to establish a register of damage for Ukraine to facilitate a future compensation mechanism by recording evidence and claims information on any damage, loss or injury caused to individuals, entities and the Ukrainian state.
18 May 2023
- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, told a visiting Chinese Envoy that Ukraine would not accept any peace proposal that involves loss of territory or freezing the conflict.
19 May 2023
- President Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to an Arab League Summit to seek broader support for Ukraine’s peace plan amongst countries that have refrained from condemning Russia’s actions. The Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, expressed his willingness to act as mediator.
21 May 2023
- At a summit in Hiroshima, G7 Leaders ‘pledged new steps to choke off Russia’s ability to finance and fuel its war, and vowed in a dedicated statement to ramp up coordination on their economic security – a thinly veiled warning from members against what they see as the weaponization of trade from China, and also Russia.’ In response, China’s foreign ministry accused G7 Leaders of hindering international peace and security.
26 May 2023
- In a meeting with China’s Special Envoy, Li Hui, in Moscow, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that there were “serious obstacles” to resuming peace talks. During the visit, the Wall Street Journal reported that China has been urging European governments to sign onto a peace deal for the war in Ukraine that would grant Moscow possession of Ukrainian territories it currently occupies.
30 May 2023
- An adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine stated that a demilitarised zone should be a ‘key topic’ in any post-conflict settlement. According to Mykhailo Podolyak, “[t]o ensure real security for residents of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions and protect them from shelling, it will be necessary to introduce a demilitarisation zone of 100-120km.” This zone would require “a mandatory international control contingent at the first stage.”
30 May 2023
- In a wide-ranging speech at an EU Leaders’ Conference in Bratislava, French President Macron set out plans to fast-track EU enlargement, reconcile the east and west of Europe, and forge a path to Ukraine’s Nato membership. While insisting Russia had lost all legitimacy, he said that if the coming Ukraine counter-offensive failed to achieve its objectives there would need to be an assessment of future European support. And he suggested that, ultimately, the pursuit of Putin for war crimes may end up being impractical if he is the only person with whom to negotiate an end to the conflict.
3 June 2023
- At the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore, the Indonesian Defence Minister proposed a peace plan to settle the Ukraine conflict, including a demilitarized zone and UN-organised referendum in “disputed areas.” In response, a Ukraine foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed the plan, reiterating Kyiv’s position that Russia should withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
6 June 2023
- UN Secretary General Guterres described the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam as a “monumental humanitarian, economic and environmental catastrophe” resulting directly from Russia’s invasion. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, both sides accused each other of committing a war crime. The World Bank will conduct a rapid assessment of damage and needs to support Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts.
7 June 2023
- According to former NATO Secretary-General, Anders Rasmussen, there may be an escalation of the conflict, with some NATO member willing to send troops to Ukraine, if no progress is made on security guarantees and a path to NATO membership at the next NATO summit in July.
16 June 2023
- During a visit to Kyiv, a delegation of African leaders called for peace talks to start as soon as possible, and proposed a 10-point peace plan with confidence-building measures to include the pullback of Russian troops, the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Belarus, the release of prisoners and return of displaced Ukrainian children, and the suspension of the ICC arrest warrant against President Putin. In response, President Zelenskyy ruled out any peace talks without a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
17 June 2023
- An African delegation continued its peace mission with a visit to Moscow to insist on peace talks and present its 10-point peace plan. President Putin praised the ‘balanced approach’ of the African nations, but argued that the proposals were misguided. He cast doubt on prospects for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, claiming that it was not helping to resolve the food crisis in Africa.
21 June 2023
- The European Commission held a briefing on Ukraine’s progress towards EU membership. According to an internal speaking note, Ukraine had fulfilled two out of the seven conditions for membership relating to judicial reform and media law.
- At a two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference, delegates from more than sixty countries pledged ‘several billion dollars in non-military aid’ and encouraged the private sector to invest in Ukraine’s recovery. By the end of the conference, international commitments to fund reconstruction had reached over US$60 billion. A joint statement was released by the UK and Ukraine as joint co-chairs of the conference.
- At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, stated that ‘all Nato allies are backing a plan to give Ukraine a fast track to Nato Membership of the kind offered to Sweden and Finland earlier this year’. The statement came a day after reports in the French media that President Macron would support Ukraine’s Nato bid to ‘pressure Russia into peace talks’.
24-25 June 2023
- Chief of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is accused of mounting a coup, after months of criticising Russia’s top generals, and particularly Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, for incompetence, failing to adequately supply his mercenaries, and leaving them to die on the battlefield. In the face of plans backed by President Putin for the integration of Wagner forces into the Russian army, Prigozhin began what he called a ‘march for justice‘ focused on removing the Defence minister, and criticising the reasons for and conduct of the war in Ukraine. A convoy of Wagner troops left Ukraine and marched within 200 miles of Moscow. President Putin denounced this as insurrection and Prigozhin as a traitor. A deal was mediated with Prigozhin by Belarusian President Lukashenkoto to stand down the Wagner forces in return for full amnesty so that Russian lives would not be lost. Prigozhin agreed to be exiled from Russia and move to Belarus, and his Wagner forces are to be integrated with the Russian armed forces.
29 June 2023
- A meeting took place days after the aborted Wagner munity between President Putin and Wagner leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin. According to Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, the “commanders themselves presented their version of what happened. They underscored that they are staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander-in-chief, and also said that they are ready to continue to fight for their homeland.” According to President Putin, the Wagner leaders rejected an offer to serve in the Russian military under their current commander, as well as further options presented to them.
3 July 2023
- The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine commences its operations.
8 July 2023
- In the lead up to the NATO Summit in July, President Erdogan expressed Turkey’s support for Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations in a meeting with President Zelenskyy. He also urged a “return to peace efforts” to end the conflict.
9 July 2023
- Russia accuses Turkey and Ukraine of violating a prisoner-exchange agreement signed last year, by allowing Ukrainian Azov commanders, involved in the battle over Mariupol, to return home to Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that Russia was not informed of the return and that Turkey had agreed to keep these former prisoners in Turkey to avoid their return to the battlefield.
11 July 2023
- After President Zelenskyy made an appeal at the two-day NATO Summit in Vilnius for recognition of Ukraine as a ‘de facto’ member, NATO leaders agreed that “Ukraine should be able to join the military alliance in the future but stopped short of offering Kyiv an immediate invitation”. No timeframe for membership was agreed. At the end of the Summit, the NATO leaders published a communique setting out its position that Ukraine will become a member when all conditions are met.
11 July 2023
- The G7 Leaders issued a joint statement, open to further states, committing to “an international framework that paves the way for long-term security assurances for Ukraine to boost its defences against Russia and deter Moscow from future aggression.” Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that “We consider this move to be badly mistaken and potentially very dangerous.”
17 July 2023
- Russia refuses to extend the Black Sea Grain Deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Russia had complained that western sanctions were holding up a parallel agreement to allow payments, insurance, and shipping for Russia’s own agricultural exports.
5-6 August 2023
- Leaders from about 40 countries, including China, India, Brazil, the US, and the EU, met in Jedda under the auspices of Saudia Arabia to discuss key principles on ending the war. Russia was not invited to the two-day conference. No final declaration was made, but it was agreed that further talks would be held.
11 August 2023
- Ukraine announced that it will unilaterally open a ‘humanitarian corridor’ in the Black Sea to release trapped cargo ships. The move tests Russia’s de facto blocakde, which has been in place since Russia refused to extend the Black Sea Grain Deal last month.
22-24 August 2023
- A BRICS Summit was held in South Africa. To avoid any issues in relation to the ICC arrest warrant, President Putin did not attend in person. Instead, he used a pre-recorded address to defend Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and to rally BRICS nations to his cause.
23-27 August 2023
- The leader of the Wagner mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, died along with a number of other high-level associates in a plane crash. The circumstances of the plane crash were suspicious given the the ‘March for Justice’ undertaken by Wagner mercenaries in June. President Putin made an official comment twenty-four hours after the incident, in which he expressed condolences and noted that Prigozhin ‘was a man with a difficult fate’, and had made ‘serious mistakes’ in his life. Prigozhin was confirmed dead by Russian forensic experts.
26 August 2023
- President Putin issues a decree requiring all Wagner troops to make an oath of allegiance to the Russian state as part of his efforts to bring the Wagner group within the control of the Russian army.
8-11 September 2023
- Russian authorities organise local elections in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to consolidate control in these occupied territories. The Council of Europe and the US Secretary of State issued statements condemning the elections as ‘sham elections’ in illegally annexed territories. Russia urges the United States to refrain from interfering in its domestic affairs.
15 September 2023
- During an official diplomatic visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Belarusian President, Lukashenko, proposed a three-way cooperative alliance between Belarus, Russia, and North Korea. South Korean officials warned that “[a]ny science and technology cooperation that contributes to nuclear weapons and missile development, including satellite systems that involve ballistic missile technologies, runs against UN security council resolutions”.
19 September 2023
- According to its Prime Minister, Ukraine is set to lodge a complaint with the the World Trade Organisation against Hungary, Poland and Slovakia concerning restrictions on the export of Ukrainian grain and other food products. Last week, these countries, which were followed by Croatia, banned the import of Ukrainian foods for sale in their local markets in order to protect local farmers from a supply glut due to the disruption of supply chains out of Ukraine. The dispute threatens to undermine support for Ukraine.
19-23 September 2023
- At the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Zelensky urged leaders to show unity in the face of Russia’s aggression, and its weaponisation of food and endergy supplies, to ensure that it does not happen again. President Biden insisted that the international community should sustain its support for Ukraine and should not give into Russia’s demands for peace, which would allow Russia to ‘carve up’ Ukrainian territory.
- In a press interview following his speech to the General Assembly, in which he railed against the West as an ‘Empire of Lies’, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan and UN proposals to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative were ‘completely not feasible’.
20 September 2023
- Addressing the UN Security Council, President Zelensky called for UN reform, insisting that the Security Council will remain ineffective so long as Russia retains its veto. He set out specific actions that would be needed to end the war, including the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and proxy fighters from Ukraine’s internationally recognised territory (based on the 1991 borders), as well as the restoration of Ukraine’s effective control over its entire state border and exclusive economic zone in the Black and Azov Seas, including the Kerch bridge linking Crimea to Russia.
3 October 2023
- A deal has been reached between Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania to facilitate the export of Ukrainian grain products through Polish territory and a Lithuanian port on the Baltic Sea to needy countries beyond Europe. It is hoped that the deal will ease tensions between the countries over the protection of domestic farmers from Ukrainian exports.
11 October 2023
- After an attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, President Zelensky expresses fears that the conflict in the Middle East could threaten military support to Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. The attack comes at a time when it seems that support from Western countries could be on the wane, given the slow pace of military advances on the battlefield, diplomatic trade disputes with neighbouring countries, shortages in ammunition supplies, and gridlock in the US Congress over debt levels and the sustainability of continued military support to Ukraine.
16 October 2023
- Qatar announces that its mediators have secured an agreement with Russia for the return of four Ukrainian children to their families and the hope that this would be the first step for further repatriations of Ukrainian children.
27 October 2023
- The European Council has set out more detailed plans on how it intends to use frozen assets from the Russian Central Bank to assist in the reconstruction of Ukraine. In response, the Chairman of the Russian State Duma stated that Russia would confiscate EU assets if frozen Russian funds are ‘stolen’.
28-29 October 2023
- A third round of Ukrainian-backed peace talks were held in Malta without Russia in the hope of consolidating support for Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan. Representatives from 66 countries took part in the talks. The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak stated that the discussions focused on five key areas, including Ukraine’s territorial integrity, nuclear safety, the protection of energy infrastructure, food security, and humanitarian issues, such as the return of prisoners and Ukrainian children. A statement by the co-chairs was released on the results of the conference.
- On the sideline of the talks in Malta, Ukraine began bilateral negotiations with Netherlands on security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine. According to the Presidential Office of Ukraine, the Netherlands has become the sixth country to enter into such negotiations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, France.
6 November 2023
- In response to discussions about the schedule for 2024 elections given the imposition of martial law in Ukraine, President Zelenskyy stated: “We all understand that now, in wartime, when there are many challenges, it is utterly irresponsible to engage in topics related to an election in such a frivolous manner. … I believe that elections are not appropriate at this time.”
8 November 2023
- The EU’s executive recommended that formal membership talks with Ukraine could commence as soon as Ukraine meets its final conditions.
11 November 2023
- Former NATO Secretary General, Anders Rasmussen, proposed that Ukraine could join the NATO alliance – but without application to the current Russian occupied territories – while the confict with Russia was still underway. He argued that this would send a signal to Russia that it cannot prevent Ukraine from joining the alliance, while avoiding the trigger for military engagement by NATO in current hostilities.
30 November – 1 December 2023
- The paralysis of the OSCE was on show at its ministerial meeting in Skopje, which brought together the foreign ministers of OSCE member states. Three Baltic countries boycotted the meeting along with Ukraine, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced his plans to attend. A key question concerned which country would take over the rotating chair for 2024, with Russia signalling in advance its intention to veto any candidate from the NATO alliance. In the end, Malta was formally requested to take up this position.
1 December 2023
- In an exclusive interview with Associated Press, President Zelenskyy described the conflict as having entered ‘a new phase’ as winter is expected to complicate fighting on the battleground. He gave a mixed response on the success of the counter-offensive, pointing to the need for further weaponry from allies, while also noting the diminished might of Russia’s Black Sea fleet and the continued operation of the temporary grain corridor after Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He also voiced his concern that conflict in the Middle East would crowd out international attention on Ukraine’s war effort.
- After signalling an intention to veto early membership negotiations between the EU and Ukraine, Hungary President Viktor Orban suggested that the EU should first sign a preliminary strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine.
Key news sources
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Ukraine’s foreign minister resigns in largest shake-up since war began
The reorganization of the administration comes as Russia unleashes a new wave of aerial attacks on cities, including one on Lviv that killed seven overnight.
Ukraine to present ‘victory plan’ to US – Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his troops’ incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is part of a “victory plan” that he will present to US President Joe Biden next month.
Russia and Ukraine swap 115 prisoners each in UAE-mediated exchange
It is the first such exchange since Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on August 6.
Modi tells Zelenskiy he is ready to work ‘as a friend’ to bring about peace deal
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, made a historic visit to Kyiv on Friday and told Volodymyr Zelenskiy he was ready to work “as a friend” to bring about a peace deal that would end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukraine says it hosts first follow-up to Swiss peace summit
Ukraine said representatives of more than 40 countries and international organisations took part in a meeting on Thursday to follow up on a peace summit hosted by Switzerland in June.
Ukraine votes to join ICC as it seeks to bring Russia to justice
Membership of the court, which prosecutes crimes against humanity, also advances Ukraine’s EU aspirations.
Ukraine adopts ‘historic’ law to ban Moscow-linked Orthodox Church
Ukraine has adopted a law to ban religious groups linked to Moscow in a move targeting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which the government has accused of complicity in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Israel accepts ‘bridging proposal’ for ceasefire deal – Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to an American “bridging proposal” for a ceasefire deal in Gaza. It is now up to Hamas to agree, Mr Blinken added.
Ukraine’s offensive derails secret efforts for partial cease-fire with Russia
The warring countries were set to hold indirect talks in Qatar on an agreement to halt strikes on energy and power infrastructure, according to officials.
Kremlin ally Belarus calls for peace in Russia-Ukraine ‘scuffle’
Putin ally Aleksandr Lukashenko says, “Let’s sit down at the negotiating table” to end the conflict.
Russia has mothballed peace talks with Ukraine over Kursk incursion
Authorities in Kyiv have refused to discuss any peace agreement with the Kremlin unless it involves the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied areas, including the Crimean peninsula.
Ukraine: No interest in keeping Russia’s Kursk region long term
Ukraine said Tuesday it has no interest in holding territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region long term, but in the meantime, it can complicate Moscow’s efforts to move more troops to the front battle lines in eastern Ukraine.
In Ukraine, peace talks no longer taboo as Russia’s war rages on
A recent poll suggests 44 percent of Ukrainians – the highest level since the conflict began – feel the time has come to engage in dialogue with the enemy.
Putin says Ukraine’s attack on Russia is aimed at ceasefire negotiations
President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Ukraine’s biggest attack on Russian territory since the start of the war was aimed at improving Kyiv’s negotiating position ahead of possible peace talks and at slowing the advance of Russian forces.
Ukraine holds front line, seeks Chinese mediation with Russia
Ukraine’s foreign minister visited Beijing for the first time during the war, as Kyiv turns to diplomacy to win war aims.
Ukraine strikes deal to delay debt repayments
Ukraine and its private creditors have struck a deal to push back debt repayments, giving the war-torn country crucial breathing space as it struggles with the economic devastation of Russia’s invasion.
Europe must brace for decade of Ukraine war – Nato chief
Europe must be prepared for a decade of Ukranian war, the outgoing secretary general of Nato has warned.
Hungary’s Orbán releases letter to EU leaders detailing his maligned Ukraine ‘peace mission’
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has released a letter he addressed to the heads of European Union countries presenting his impressions from a recent series of visits with some of the bloc’s biggest adversaries.
Orban’s ‘peacemaking’ mission: Did Hungary’s leader achieve anything?
When Hungarian premier Viktor Orban broke ranks with the rest of the European Union to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 5, he cast himself as a peacemaker.
44% of Ukrainians believe it’s time to start official peace talks with Russia, survey finds
Almost 44% of Ukrainians think that it is time for official peace negotiations with Russia, according to a survey published by the ZN.ua media outlet on July 15.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy eyes second summit in November, says Russia should attend
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he aimed to have a plan ready in November to enable Kyiv to hold a second international summit on his vision of peace in Ukraine, and he said representatives of Russia should attend.
Why are NATO and China facing off over Ukraine?
Leaders of NATO nations have described China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war on Ukraine in the sharpest criticism levelled yet by the alliance at Beijing over the conflict.
Ukraine is on an ‘irreversible’ path to NATO. Only after war ends
The 32-members of NATO on Wednesday formally declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership in the Western military alliance, offering a bare but more binding assurance of protection once its war with Russia ends.
Russia blames war on NATO as it pounds Ukraine, demands territory for talks
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has pressed on with his shuttle diplomacy to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, visiting Beijing on Monday after passing through Kyiv and Moscow.
‘Peace mission’: Hungary’s Orban meets Putin in Russia, defying EU leaders
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with no mandate from the European Union. Afterwards, Putin said that they discussed the situation in Ukraine, but reiterated that Moscow’s peace proposals should be key to any negotiations.
NATO’s Stoltenberg rules out Ukraine land-for-peace deal
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday shot down growing calls in the U.S. to force Ukraine to give up land or future NATO membership in return for Russian leader Vladimir Putin ending the war.
Zelensky U-turns as he invites Russia to attend peace summit without giving up land
After two years of war, the Ukrainian leader appears to be taking peace talks seriously.
Hungary’s Orban urges ceasefire on Kyiv visit
Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for an unannounced visit having just taken over as rotating president of the European Union. While in Kyiv, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy charting ‘comprehensive plan’ to end war with Russia
Ukrainian president says as the war rages and casualties mount, a plan to end the 28-month conflict is ‘the diplomatic route we are working on’.
EU-Ukraine security agreement will advance ‘peace’, says Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said a security agreement to be inked between Kyiv and the European Union on Thursday would advance “peace and prosperity” across the continent.
Joint Security Commitments between Ukraine and the European Union
On 27 June 2024, the European Union signed an agreement with Ukraine on security commitments.
Trump military aides give him plan to pressure Ukraine into peace talks with Putin
Donald Trump has been presented with a plan to bring an end to the war in Ukraine by two key advisers that would require Kyiv to sit down for peace talks with Russia or receive no further US weapons.
War crimes arrest warrants issued for top Russian officials
The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s former defence minister, Sergei Shoigu, and the chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov.
EU opens accession negotiations with Ukraine
The EU held the first Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level to open accession negotiations with Ukraine.
The known and unknown about the partnership agreement signed by Russia and North Korea
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un say the strategic partnership they signed in their summit in Pyongyang is a breakthrough, but what it means for their relationship is still uncertain.
Key global powers fail to sign up to Ukraine peace summit communique
Key regional powers including Brazil, India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia have failed to sign up to a joint communique issued at the end of a Ukraine peace conference in which more than 80 countries and international organisations endorsed its territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s invasion.
Putin peace terms slammed at Ukraine summit
The leaders of Italy and Germany have strongly rejected ceasefire terms laid out by Vladimir Putin to stop the war in Ukraine, as scores of countries gathered at a two-day summit in Switzerland to discuss ending the conflict.
Putin offers truce if Ukraine exits Russian-claimed areas and drops NATO bid. Kyiv rejects it
President Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire and start negotiations if Kyiv began withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO.
Bilateral Security Agreement Between the United States of America and Ukraine
On 13 June 2024, the United States signed an agreement with Ukraine on security and defense cooperation.
G7 agrees $50bn loan for Ukraine from Russian assets
The G7 has agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise $50bn (£39bn) for Ukraine to help it fight invading Russian forces.
Biden, Zelenskiy inch toward NATO with 10-year defense agreement
U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement on Thursday aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense against Russian invaders and getting Ukraine closer to NATO membership.
US and Ukraine’s EU allies rush to agree deal on Russian assets ahead of G7
US officials are trying to get European allies on board for a deal to present at the G7 leaders summit later this week on how to use the interest from Russian frozen assets to support war-torn Ukraine. But with the meeting in southern Italy starting on Thursday, discussions are still ongoing.
Ninety states headed to Ukraine peace summit but Russia absent
Ninety states from around the globe have signed up to attend a conference aimed at finding a route to sustainable peace in Ukraine, Switzerland has said, but Russia will not be represented.
French-American Roadmap
A joint roadmap between the United States and France concerning the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Biden, Macron talk Middle East and Ukraine during ceremonial state visit
Fresh from commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden in Paris on Saturday for a state visit that included talks about the Middle East, Ukraine and trade.
What the West gets wrong about the war in Ukraine
If Kyiv’s allies had identified Putin’s invasion as an act of colonisation, they might have won more support from the Global South.
China denies fuelling Russia-Ukraine war tensions, says it supports peace
China has said it believes “all efforts” should be recognised in supporting peace measures around the Russia-Ukraine war, rejecting accusations from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that it was trying with Russia to undermine this month’s planned peace summit in Switzerland.
Biden opposes ‘Nato-isation’ of Ukraine in major blow to Zelensky
Joe Biden has ruled out Ukraine joining Nato in the aftermath of a ceasefire with Russia in a major blow to Volodymyr Zelensky. Ahead of Nato’s annual summit on July 9, the US president said Ukraine would have to rely on supplies of Western weapons to ward off a second Russian offensive.
News on the Summit on Peace in Ukraine
On 15 and 16 June 2024, Switzerland is organising a Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock. The aim of the summit is to develop a common understanding of a possible path to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. All news on the summit can be found here.
Zelensky accuses Russia and China of undermining summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia and China of attempting to undermine his upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland.
China could arrange Russia-Ukraine peace conference, Lavrov tells RIA
China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine would participate, the RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Thursday.
Force Russia to make peace, Zelensky urges West
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western leaders to pressure Russia into peace using “all means” necessary.
Exclusive: Putin wants Ukraine ceasefire on current frontlines
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine to freeze the war was rejected by the United States after contacts between intermediaries, three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.
‘New ground is being broken’: EU seizes Russian profits for Ukraine
A landmark EU decision this week to send Ukraine the interest earned by hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian central bank accounts on its territory is adding urgency to a debate over what will happen to those accounts.
War and popularity keep Zelensky in power despite term expiring
While his approval ratings have inevitably waned, President Volodymyr Zelensky has been able to use his enduring appeal, along with a desire for stability, to extend his term in office.
‘Genuine desire’: Putin backs China peace plan to end Ukraine war
President Vladimir Putin has signalled approval of China’s plan as a “genuine desire” to end the war in Ukraine as he travels to Beijing to shore up support from his vital international partner.
EU moves to give profits from Russian assets to Ukraine
Ambassadors from EU member states have agreed in principle to seize windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to finance arms supplies to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s Zelenskiy: Cape Verde first African state to agree to attend peace summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that the island state of Cape Verde had become the first African country to agree to attend a world “peace summit” aimed at finding a solution to Ukraine’s more than two-year-old war against Russia.
Ukraine may have talks eventually with Russia, intelligence officer says
But Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, deputy chief of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence directorate, told the Economist magazine that talks would eventually be needed, as would be the case with any war.
France’s Macron doesn’t rule out troops for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron said he has not ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine if Russia breaks through Ukrainian front lines and the government in Kyiv made such a request.
Congress clears $95bn aid package for Ukraine and Israel
The US Senate has approved a $95bn (£76bn) foreign aid package that includes military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Ukraine aid package could help Kyiv slow Russia’s advance
President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his gratitude to the US House of Representatives for approving a new $61bn (£49bn) package of military assistance for Ukraine after months of delays. He said the aid could save thousands of lives.
House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel and Ukraine this week
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia.
Kremlin suggests 2022 proposal could be basis for peace talks
A top Kremlin spokesperson said Friday a draft 2022 peace proposal could serve as a starting point for prospective talks between Russia and Ukraine to end their conflict, now in its third year.
Cameron meets Trump, to urge US Congress to approve Ukraine military aid
Top British diplomat says success for Ukraine is vital for the security of the United States and Europe.
Mike Johnson faces revolt by hard-right Republicans over Ukraine aid package
Some House members remain staunchly opposed to proposal and one of them has already threatened to oust the speaker.
Inside Donald Trump’s secret, long-shot plan to end the war in Ukraine
Former president Trump has privately said he could end Russia’s war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine to give up some territory. Some foreign policy experts said Trump’s idea would reward Russian President Putin and condone the violation of internationally recognized borders by force.
Ukraine is at great risk of its front lines collapsing
According to high-ranking Ukrainian officers, the military picture is grim and Russian generals could find success wherever they decide to focus their upcoming offensive.
Ukraine invites citizens to register wartime damage
Ukrainians can begin filing claims for damages they have suffered in Russia’s invasion at a newly-established register based in The Hague, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday.
Ukraine peace talks without Russia will fail, Kremlin spokesman says
Any global peace summit on Ukraine that excludes Russia is simply “absurd” and will fail, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview published on Tuesday.
China’s envoy says ‘significant gap’ between Kyiv and Moscow on peace talks
Li Hui, China’s special envoy for Ukraine, has said there remained a “significant gap” between Moscow and Kyiv on peace talks to end the more than two-year-long war, although both agreed it was the best way to resolve the crisis.
Russia is in a ‘state of war’ in Ukraine, Kremlin says for the first time
More than two years after invading Ukraine, the Kremlin has said that Russia regards itself to be at “war” due to the West’s intervention and support of its neighbour.
EU agrees in principle to give profits from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine
EU leaders have agreed in principle to commandeer a large majority of the profits generated from frozen Russian assets and give them to Ukraine.
EU leaders urged to put economies ‘on war footing’ at Ukraine negotiations
EU leaders are to meet in Brussels to discuss ways to radically increase military and financial support for Ukraine amid calls for member states to put their economies “on a war footing”.
Trump’s vague peace plan casts a shadow over Ukraine
Donald Trump holds no elected office, but the Republican presidential candidate’s vague Ukraine policy is already being felt in that country. Allies of the former president have blocked aid to Ukraine in Congress for months, leading to profound shortages on the battlefield.
Russian election garners congratulations and condemnation
Russia’s allies have been swift to congratulate President Vladimir Putin for his weekend election win, but Western leaders have denounced the “illegal” vote.
Hungary’s Orban claims Trump said he won’t ‘give a penny’ to Ukraine
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says former US President Donald Trump has told him that he would “not give a penny” to the war in Ukraine.
Pope says Ukraine should have ‘courage of the white flag’ of negotiations
Pope Francis has said in an interview that Ukraine should have what he called the courage of the “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that followed Moscow’s full-scale invasion two years ago and that has killed tens of thousands.
Turkey offers to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks as Erdogan hosts Zelenskyy
Turkey is ready to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said after talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul.
ICC issues arrest warrants for top Russian commanders
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for top Russian commanders over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Putin’s address to Russia’s parliament
President Vladimir Putin delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address on Thursday to Russia’s elite, updating them on the war in Ukraine, Moscow’s nuclear capabilities, the Russian economy and relations with the West.
Transnistria appeals to Russia for ‘protection’, reviving fears for Moldova breakaway region
US says it is closely watching situation in key region on Ukraine border after officials asked Moscow for help against the government in Moldova
Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia to push for peace, POW deal with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held talks in Saudi Arabia with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in an attempt to push for an end to the invasion of Ukraine and the return of prisoners of war from Russia.
Germany, NATO rule out sending troops to Ukraine as Russia rebukes Macron
Germany, Poland and NATO have ruled out sending ground troops to Ukraine, as the Kremlin warned such a move would mark a major escalation and result in direct conflict between Russia and the Western security alliance.
Switzerland to hold Ukraine peace conference ‘by the summer’
Switzerland told the United Nations on Friday that it intends to organize a high-level Ukraine peace conference “by the summer” as the 193-member world body met to mark the second anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.
‘High time for peace’, UN chief says, as Russia’s full-scale invasion enters third year
The UN Secretary-General addressed the Security Council on Friday, underscoring the fundamental need to honour the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as the full-scale invasion by Russia of the country marks its second anniversary.
The Take: Two years on – When will the Ukraine war end?
“Outnumbered and outgunned.” With Russian forces firmly planted in Ukraine and half a million people dead and wounded, one Ukrainian journalist takes stock of all she’s seen, two years after Russia invaded. So, when and how will this war end? And what happens if Ukraine loses?
Ukrainian foreign minister discusses peace prospects with China’s Wang Yi
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Saturday he had discussed the prospects for peace in Kyiv’s nearly two-year-old war against Russia with his Chinese counterpart, part of a long-running bid to bolster relations with Beijing.
Ukraine signs French security pact after similar agreement with Germany
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a new long-term security pact with France, hours after securing a similar deal and aid from Germany.
Ukraine’s war effort already affected by block on $60bn US aid, says Nato chief
The US failure to vote through a fresh military aid package for Ukraine is already having an impact on the battlefield, Nato’s secretary general has warned at the end of a defence ministers’ meeting.
What are the security deals Ukraine is discussing with allies?
Wartime Ukraine has been in talks with an expanding group of countries to agree bilateral agreements on security commitments while it strives to reach its strategic goal of NATO membership and presses to secure foreign assistance to fight Russia’s invasion.
US House Speaker Johnson blocks vote on Ukraine aid passed by Senate
The Republican leader of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday blocked war aid for Ukraine, ignoring President Joe Biden’s plea that passing the bill was vital for standing up to “Russian dictator” Vladimir Putin.
EU takes first step to use Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine
The EU adopted a law to set aside windfall profits made on frozen Russian central bank assets, it said on Monday, in a first concrete step towards the bloc’s aim of using the money to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Outgunned and exhausted: what hope for Ukraine if US military aid dries up?
With Republicans blocking US military aid, if Europe does not plug the gap Ukraine risks slow-motion defeat.
Russia and Ukraine exchange 100 prisoners each after UAE mediation
In announcing the prisoner exchange as a “success”, the Gulf nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that it was its third mediation effort between Moscow and Kyiv since December as it called for dialogue and de-escalation.
Putin Calls on U.S. to ‘Negotiate’ on Ukraine in Tucker Carlson Interview
In a two-hour interview, President Vladimir Putin of Russia was more direct than usual about how he sees his Ukraine invasion ending: not with a military victory, but a deal with the West.
US Senate advances wartime aid package for Ukraine and Israel
The Senate on Thursday advanced a wartime aid package for Ukraine and Israel, reviving an effort that had stalled amid Republican opposition to a border security bill they demanded and later abandoned.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy fires top Ukraine army commander
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has fired his top army commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in Ukraine’s biggest military shake-up since Russia’s full-scale invasion began nearly two years ago.
Tucker Carlson: The Vladimir Putin Interview
Tucker Carlson interviews Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia on 6 February 2024.
Time for another Ukrainian Genocide Case?
Two questions arise from the Ukranian Genocide Case, according to Prof Weller. First, whether it is worthwhile for Ukraine to continue the case. And second, whether Ukraine should bring a fresh action, alleging that genocide is being committed by Russian armed forces on its territory.
ICJ rules that it will hear part of Ukraine-Russia genocide case
UN’s top court will not address aspects of case accusing Russia of violating Genocide Convention by falsely alleging genocide.
In a sign of commitment, EU unlocks aid for Ukraine as it fights off Russia
The deal will help Ukraine cover its massive wartime deficit, but experts question what concessions were made to assure its passage.
ICJ rejects most of Ukraine’s ‘terrorism’ case against Russia
The ICJ has rejected much of a case filed by Ukraine that accused Russia of funding separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine a decade ago, saying only that Moscow had failed to investigate alleged breaches.
Russia and Ukraine complete first prisoner exchange since plane crash
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war, in the first prisoner swap since the crash last week of a Russian military transport plane that Moscow says was carrying 65 Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine invites China’s Xi to ‘peace summit’ – Zelenskiy’s top adviser
Ukraine has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in a planned “peace summit” of world leaders in Switzerland, a top diplomatic adviser to President Zelenskiy said, as Russia’s invasion approaches its second anniversary.
Kremlin denies report that Putin reaching out to US, might drop key demands on Ukraine
The Kremlin on Friday denied a Bloomberg report that President Vladimir Putin was “putting out feelers” to the United States for possible talks on ending the war in Ukraine and might consider dropping key demands on Ukraine’s security status.
Turkey’s parliament approves Sweden’s NATO bid
Turkey’s parliament has approved Sweden’s NATO membership bid after more than four hours of debates.
EU unlikely to confiscate Russian central bank assets – officials
The European Union is unlikely to confiscate Russian central bank assets frozen in Europe, despite G7 plans to discuss the legality of such a move at a meeting in February, senior EU officials said.
Zelenskiy slams Trump’s rhetoric on stopping the war as ‘very dangerous’
Ukrainian leader invited Trump to Ukraine but says if he returns to White House he could make unilateral concessions to Russia.
Biden signs measure to avert shutdown but Ukraine aid remains frozen
Joe Biden on Friday signed a measure to keep the US government funded but as Washington shivered under its second major snowfall in a week, the bill did not unfreeze funding for Ukraine.
Zelensky urges Davos to take $300 billion of Russian Central Bank money to help Ukraine
Nearly two years since the US and its allies froze Russian foreign holdings in retaliation for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, that roughly $300 billion has been sitting untapped as the war grinds on, while officials from multiple countries debate the legality of sending the money to Ukraine.
Putin says Ukraine’s statehood at risk if pattern of war continues
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine’s statehood could suffer an “irreparable blow” if the pattern of the war continued, and Russia would never be forced to abandon the gains it had made.
At Davos, Zelenskyy lashes out at Putin and presses allies to boost Ukraine’s fight
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came out swinging against Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, while urging political and business leaders facing war fatigue in the West to enforce sanctions, help rebuild his country and advance the peace process.
Kremlin says Davos talks on Ukraine will achieve nothing as Russia is not there
The Kremlin on Monday said that talks in Davos on Kyiv’s peace proposals would achieve nothing as Russia was not participating in the discussions, and Moscow will continue its military operation in Ukraine until it achieves all its goals.
Ukraine ‘peace formula’ talks attract more non-Western states
Security officials from 82 countries, including many non-Western nations, joined the fourth round of Ukraine-initiated talks to promote Kyiv’s peace proposals in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday 14 January.
The inside story of Russia and Ukraine’s ‘peace’ talks
The month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the two sides met for negotiations in a palace in Istanbul. The men in the room tell Yaroslav Trofimov what happened — and why an intervention from Boris Johnson may have been pivotal
Zelensky: With British help we can ensure freedom defeats aggression
An article by President Zelensky published in the Times.
UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Co-operation
The UK Prime Minister and President Zelenskyy signrd a historic UK-Ukraine Agreement on Security Cooperation. The G7 nations agreed to provide Ukraine with bilateral security assurances at the NATO Summit in Vilnius last year; the UK is the first country to deliver a final agreement.
Rishi Sunak arrives in Ukraine with £2.5B and a security deal
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Ukraine on Friday morning, bringing with him the promise of £2.5 billion in military support, as well as humanitarian aid and security guarantees.
Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria sign deal to clear floating Black Sea mines
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria signed an agreement on Thursday on a joint plan to clear mines floating in the Black Sea as a result of the war in Ukraine, following months of talks between the NATO allies.
US and Allies Met Secretly With Ukraine on Peace Plan
Representatives from Ukraine, the Group of Seven (G7) countries, and other less explicitly aligned countries such as India and Saudi Arabia, held secret peace talks in Riyadh in December, Bloomberg reported.
Russia must be held accountable over Ukraine – we should seize its assets
Joseph Stiglitz and Andrew Kosenko argue that we must find ways to send a clear message to regimes waging wars.
Zelensky warned over banning ‘historic institution’
Threat to outlaw Ukrainian Orthodox Church will have dire ramifications for nation’s EU hopes and place in the Western world, say lawyers
Russia and Ukraine stage major POW exchange after UAE mediation
Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday (3 January) announced their first exchange of prisoners of war in nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side after what both said was a complex negotiation involving mediation by the United Arab Emirates.
US Announces Last Authorized Military Aid for Ukraine
The Biden administration announced Wednesday the final drawdown of weapons and military equipment for Ukraine from U.S. stockpiles under the existing presidential authorization, with future assistance for Kyiv up to Congress.
Putin Quietly Signals He Is Open to a Cease-Fire in Ukraine
Buoyed by Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive and flagging Western support, Mr. Putin says that Russia’s war goals have not changed. But in a recent push of back-channel diplomacy, Mr. Putin has been sending a different message: He is ready to make a deal.
Ukraine war: New Christmas date marks shift away from Russia
For the first time since 1917, Ukraine is celebrating Christmas on 25 December. The move is more than just a change of date from 7 January – the date for Christmas in the Julian calendar, which Russia uses. It’s the continuation of a significant cultural shift, to eradicate Moscow’s influence in Ukraine.
Russia warns US and Europe over reports Ukraine may get its seized assets
The Kremlin has threatened Europe and the US with “serious consequences”, including tit-for-tat financial seizures or even a break in diplomatic relations, if Russian assets held abroad are given to aid the Ukrainian budget and war effort.
Kremlin says there is no basis for peace negotiations with Ukraine
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that there is no current basis for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine and that Kyiv’s proposed peace plan was absurd as it excluded Russia.
Hungary’s Orban blocks aid for Ukraine, says he can still halt EU accession
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a major European Union aid package for Ukraine on Friday and warned he could still halt Kyiv’s accession to the bloc after membership talks won EU approval.
EU greenlights accession talks with Ukraine but Orbán vetoes €50-billion aid package
The European Union decided Thursday to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. But hours later, Viktor Orbán used his veto power to block a €50-billion aid package for the war-battered nation.
Zelensky pleads for more aid amid standoff in US Congress
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to back more aid to Kyiv, with a plea that some lawmakers said has changed few, if any, minds.
Russia plans presidential vote in annexed Ukrainian regions
Russia plans to run next year’s presidential election in the four regions of Ukraine that it annexed in 2022.
Should Ukraine’s Zelenskyy hold elections amid Russia war? No, say voters
Some politicians, in Ukraine and elsewhere, question whether the country should hold a vote, despite legal restrictions.
Zelensky speaks out as US stand-off imperils war effort
Ukraine is facing some of its most difficult days since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
European leaders try to stop Orbán derailing Ukraine’s EU accession bid
European leaders are scrambling to rescue a plan to begin European Union accession negotiations for Ukraine, as Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, vows to block the decision at a summit of EU leaders next week.
Hungary’s Orban says EU should first sign strategic partnership accord with Ukraine
The European Union should first sign a strategic partnership agreement with Ukraine instead of starting membership talks with the country, Hungary’s Viktor Orban said on Friday, flagging a way to a possible compromise ahead of a crucial EU summit.
AP Interview: Zelenskyy says the war with Russia is in a new phase
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the war with Russia is in a new stage, with winter expected to complicate fighting after a summer counteroffensive that failed to produce desired results due to enduring shortages of weapons and ground forces.
Russia’s foreign minister faces Western critics at security meeting
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov faced Western critics while attending international security talks Thursday in Northern Macedonia, where he blamed “NATO’s reckless expansion to the East” for war returning to Europe.
Is The OSCE Meeting In Skopje A Triumph For Russia?
There were two big questions looming over the OSCE ministerial meeting in Skopje, which will bring together the foreign ministers of the Vienna-based security body. First, would Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov show up? And second, which country would take over the rotating chair for 2024?
Ukraine insists it sees no sign of NATO war fatigue
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba insisted on Wednesday that NATO allies are showing no sign of war fatigue and remain committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia and take back occupied territory.
NATO chief urges allies to ‘stay the course’ in supporting Ukraine
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has urged members of the security alliance to continue backing Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s invasion amid opposition in the United States to a military aid package and resistance in Europe for a longer-term support plan for Kyiv.
Stalemate best describes the state of war in Ukraine
As Russia’s war on Ukraine rages on, neither country is likely to achieve a breakthrough this year — or even next. But that doesn’t mean it will be over soon. Moscow and Kyiv aren’t interested in negotiating an end to the war, or even settling for a frozen conflict, writes Ivo Daalder.
Nearly half of Americans think the US is spending too much on Ukraine aid
As lawmakers in Washington weigh sending billions more in federal support to Kyiv to help fight off Russian aggression, close to half of the U.S. public thinks the country is spending too much on aid to Ukraine, according to polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Putin G20 speech: What Russian leader said in virtual address about Ukraine war ‘tragedy’
Russian president Vladimir Putin told the G20 leaders on Wednesday that it was time to think about how to stop the “tragedy” of the war in Ukraine which entered its 22nd month.
The West could live with a frozen Ukraine conflict
Wars don’t always end in peace. Conflicts can also end in a stalemate, sometimes for decades. Just look at Korea and Cyprus, which have been divided for 70 and 49 years, respectively. Ukraine may be heading for a similarly frozen conflict with Russia.
Ex-Nato chief proposes Ukraine joins without Russian-occupied territories
A former Nato secretary general has put forward a proposal for Ukraine to join the military alliance, but stripped of the territories occupied by Russia.
Ukraine gets European Commission nod to start EU membership talks
The European Union’s executive has recommended opening formal membership talks with Ukraine, as soon as it meets final conditions, in a major show of support for Kyiv in its battle against Russia.
Why are US Republicans pushing for aid to Israel but not Ukraine?
As wars continue to rage in both Ukraine and Gaza, another battle is playing out in the United States Congress: over which country should receive aid money.
Russia formally pulls out of Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
Russia has officially pulled out of an international security pact that restricts the use of conventional weapons, saying NATO’s expansion has made such cooperation impossible.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says war complicates plans for 2024 elections
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says discussions about the fate of scheduled 2024 elections are irresponsible as the country is locked in a war with invading Russian forces.
Zelenskiy denies he is under pressure to enter peace talks with Russia
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has rejected the idea western countries are putting pressure on Kyiv to enter peace talks with Russia.
American Views on the Ukraine War in 6 Charts
As the harsh winter months approach in Ukraine, Americans’ views on the war there have shifted, with a plurality now saying the U.S. is doing too much to help Ukraine.
Top Biden officials urge Congress to pass military aid for Israel and Ukraine
The Biden administration took its quest for emergency military aid for Israel and Ukraine to Capitol Hill on Tuesday in an all-out effort to overcome House Republican attempts to decimate a $106bn package while cutting key parts of the White House’s domestic policy.
Belarus’s Lukashenko says Ukraine-Russia conflict at stalemate, urges talks
Russia and Ukraine are locked in a stalemate on the frontlines of their war and the two sides need to sit down and negotiate an end to the conflict, Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus and an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said over the weekend.
Malta Hosts Fresh Round of Ukraine-Backed Peace Talks
A third round of Ukrainian-backed peace talks opened in Malta on Saturday with representatives from more than 60 countries but without Moscow, which condemned it as a “blatantly anti-Russian event.”
Yermak begins consultations with Netherlands regarding security guarantees
On the sidelines of the third meeting of national security and foreign policy advisors, taking place in Malta, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has started consultations with the Netherlands regarding an agreement on security guarantees.
EU vows to tax Russia’s immobilised assets for Ukraine reconstruction
Ursula von der Leyen gave more details about the delayed plan to use the immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank to pay for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Slovakia Says It’s Halting Arms Deliveries to Ukraine
Slovakia says it is halting all military aid to its embattled neighbor, a policy shift that is unlikely to change the balance on the battlefield, but delivers a symbolic blow at a time of growing war fatigue in parts of Europe.
German prosecutors handed evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine
Dossiers of evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine have been presented to German federal prosecutors at the start of a campaign to use the principle of universal jurisdiction to bring war criminals to justice.
Ukraine’s parliament advances bill targeting Orthodox church with ties to Moscow
Ukraine’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted to advance legislation seen as effectively banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church over its ties to Moscow.
Ukrainian children repatriated from Russia through Qatari mediation
Qatar has announced that its mediators have succeeded in securing Russian agreement for the return of four Ukrainian children to their families in what is hoped to be the first phase of repatriations for more children.
Zelenskiy fears Middle East conflict could hit military aid to Ukraine
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has said he fears that the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel and US politics could threaten military support for his country, as he made a surprise visit to Brussels where Nato defence ministers are meeting.
Russia fails to win back seat on human rights council after UN vote
Russia has been defeated in its attempt to regain a seat in the UN’s top human rights body by a significant majority at the general assembly, which voted last year to suspend Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.
As Russia’s war grinds on, is global support for Ukraine waning?
As Slovakia votes for a pro-Russia politician, Poland drops military aid, and the US wavers; Ukraine is likely worried but not yet panicking, analysts say.
Deal to Expedite Grain Exports Reached Between Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania
Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania have agreed on a plan they hope will help expedite Ukrainian grain exports, officials said Tuesday, with needy countries beyond Europe potentially benefiting from speedier procedures.
EU set to announce Ukraine accession talks by December
The European Union is gearing up to open negotiations with Ukraine on its future accession to the bloc with a formal announcement expected as soon as December.
Putin marks anniversary of annexation of Ukrainian regions as drones attack overnight
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday insisted that the residents of four Ukrainian regions that Moscow illegally annexed a year ago “made their choice — to be with their Fatherland.”
Sergei Lavrov dismisses Ukraine peace plan and UN effort to revive grain deal
Russia’s foreign minister has told the UN that Ukraine’s proposed peace plan and the latest proposals to revive the Black Sea grain initiative were “not realistic”.
Zelensky Tells U.N. Security Council It’s Useless While Russia Has a Veto
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, denouncing Russia’s “unprovoked aggression,” told the United Nations Security Council that if it did not break the grip of Russian veto power, it would be powerless to resolve conflicts around the world.
Zelenskyy urges global unity against Russia in UN General Assembly speech
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to show unity in the face of Russia’s continued “aggression” in Ukraine, telling the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Moscow is “weaponising” food and energy.
Joe Biden urges world leaders to stop Ukraine from being ‘carved up’
US president Joe Biden called on world leaders to oppose early peace talks that would lead to the break-up of Ukraine, arguing that standing firm against Russia’s goal of winning a big chunk of land would deter future invasions of independent nations.
Ukraine complains to WTO about Hungary, Poland and Slovakia banning its food products
Ukraine is filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization against Hungary, Poland and Slovakia after they banned grain and other food products coming from the war-torn country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Tuesday.
The Vladimir Putin-Kim Jong-un summit: five things we learned
Meeting in Russia’s Far East could mean worrying weapons developments in Ukraine and the North Korean leader’s military ambitions
Belarus leader proposes three-way cooperation with Russia and North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a meeting Friday with his Belarusian ally, who suggested that Minsk could could join Moscow’s efforts to revive an old alliance with Pyongyang after this week’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Russia holds elections in occupied Ukrainian regions in an effort to tighten its grip there
Russian authorities are holding local elections this weekend in occupied parts of Ukraine in an effort to tighten their grip on territories Moscow illegally annexed a year ago and still does not fully control.
NATO has no indication of intentional Russian attack on Romania
NATO has no indication that drone debris found on Romanian territory was caused by a deliberate Russian attack on Romania, its chief said on Thursday.
Putin says he won’t renew the grain deal until the West meets his demands
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that a landmark deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea amid the war won’t be restored until the West meets Moscow’s demands on its own agricultural exports.
Yevgeny Prigozhin confirmed dead after plane crash, Russian investigators say
Russia’s investigative committee, which investigates serious crimes in the country, has confirmed that the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was among the people killed in a plane crash.
Putin orders Wagner fighters to sign oath of allegiance
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Wagner fighters to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian state after a deadly plane crash believed to have killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, the volatile chief of the mercenary group.
What did President Putin say about the Russia plane crash
Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken his silence about the plane crash that took place outside Moscow on Wednesday, almost 24 hours after the incident.
Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin on crashed plane: What to know
Russian authorities have confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group that led a mutiny against Russia’s army in June, was on board a plane that crashed outside Moscow.
Putin defends invasion of Ukraine in Brics summit address
Vladimir Putin has defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sought to rally leaders of the Brics nations meeting in South Africa to the Kremlin’s side.
Nato chief downplays idea Ukraine could give up land for membership
Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has said it would be up to Ukraine to decide when it wanted to negotiate peace with Russia, as he sought to downplay comments by a key aide about a land-for-Nato-membership agreement.
Ukraine’s Kuleba promises to ‘free Africa from Russia’s grip’
Kyiv intends to invest significant political capital to deepen ties with African countries, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said, in a bid to counter Moscow’s influence on the continent.
Ukraine to open ‘humanitarian corridor’ for ships stuck in Black Sea ports
Ukraine announced it will open a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea to release cargo ships trapped in its ports since the outbreak of war, a new test of Russia’s de facto blockade since Moscow abandoned a deal last month to let Kyiv export grain from its sea ports.
China ‘backs further Ukraine peace talks’ after Saudi Arabia summit
China is said to be in support of a third round of talks to find a framework for peace in Ukraine after a meeting of senior officials from about 40 countries in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
Saudi Arabia hosts peace talks on Ukraine war excluding Russia
Saudi Arabia hosted talks on the Ukraine war Saturday in the latest flexing of its diplomatic muscle, a session that Kyiv had predicted would “not be easy” given the wide range of countries represented.
Putin says African proposal could be basis for peace in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that an initiative presented by African leaders could be a basis for peace in Moscow’s war on Ukraine but claimed that attacks from Kyiv made a cessation of hostilities “virtually impossible”.
African Union chair: Putin’s grain offer not enough, Ukraine ceasefire needed
The chair of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, said on Friday that proposals by Russian President Vladimir Putin to provide grain to Africa were not sufficient, and that a ceasefire in Ukraine was needed.
Putin promises grains, debt write-off as Russia seeks Africa allies
Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country and the African leaders attending a summit in St Petersburg have agreed to promote a multipolar world order and fight “neocolonialism” as he offered debt write-offs and grain to woo allies.
Russia pulls out of Black Sea grain deal
Russia has formally withdrawn from a UN-brokered deal to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, potentially imperilling tens of millions of tonnes of food exports from the war-torn country.
‘Very dangerous’: Russia slams G7 security assurances to Ukraine
Group of Seven countries have announced security assurances to Ukraine to deter future Russian attacks, a move decried by Moscow.
NATO stops short of Ukraine invitation, angering Zelenskyy
The military alliance says it will invite Ukraine to become a member only when ‘conditions are met’ but gives no timeline.
NATO ‘must confirm’ Ukraine is ‘de facto’ a member: Zelenskyy
Most NATO members stand together with Ukraine and the alliance’s upcoming Lithuania summit must confirm Kyiv is a de facto member, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
Zelenskyy brings home Azov fighters from Turkey, angering Moscow
Russia accuses Turkey and Ukraine of violating a prisoner-exchange agreement signed last year.
Ukraine ‘deserves’ NATO membership, Turkey’s Erdogan says
Turkey supports Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but he also urged for a “return to peace efforts” to end the conflict.
‘All bets are off’: An uncertain future after Wagner mutiny
Following Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s short-lived mutiny, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government find themselves in unchartered territory. The crisis appears to have been averted, for now, but what happens next for Russia and the Wagner Group remains uncertain.
‘Those behind the mutiny will pay’: Vladimir Putin’s statement in full
Here is the text of the Russian president’s emergency address as Wagner chief leads armed rebellion.
Nato allies back fast-track membership for Ukraine, says Cleverly
The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has said all Nato allies are backing a plan to give Ukraine a fast track to Nato membership of the kind offered to Sweden and Finland earlier this year.
Commission briefs on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia’s reform progress towards EU membership
Ukraine has made good reform progress, an internal European Commission update is expected to say, indicating how fast the countries could progress on their path toward future EU membership.
Allies pledge billions for Ukraine rebuilding and seek big-business investment at London conference
Ukraine’s allies pledged several billion dollars in non-military aid on Wednesday to rebuild the country’s war-ravaged infrastructure, fight corruption and help pave the country’s road to membership in the European Union.
France ‘backs Ukraine’s Nato bid’ to pressure Russia into peace talks
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, reportedly hopes the about-turn in policy on Nato membership for Ukraine could help to end the war.
War in Ukraine must stop, South Africa’s Ramaphosa tells Putin
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – who is in Russia as part of a peace-seeking delegation – told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine must stop.
Zelenskyy asks African leaders to push Russia on prisoner release
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged a group of African leaders to ask his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond, saying it would be an “important step” during their trip to Russia on Saturday.
South African president presents 10-step peace plan in Kyiv
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa presented a ten-point peace plan of the African Peace Mission during his visit to Kyiv, Ukrinform wrote on June 16.
Russia floundering in ‘mud of lies’ over Kakhovka dam destruction, Ukraine tells UN
Russia’s UN envoy was accused of floundering in a “mud of lies” after he claimed at an emergency session of the security council that Ukraine destroyed Kakhovka dam in a “war crime”.
Nato members may send troops to Ukraine, warns former alliance chief
A group of Nato countries may be willing to put troops on the ground in Ukraine if member states including the US do not provide tangible security guarantees to Kyiv at the alliance’s summit in Vilnius, the former Nato Secretary-General Anders Rasmussen has said.
Indonesia proposes demilitarised zone, UN referendum for Ukraine peace plan
Indonesia’s defence minister on Saturday proposed a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine, calling for a demilitarised zone and a United Nations referendum in what he called disputed territory.
Ukraine-Russia border ‘demilitarised zone’ floated for peace deal
A demilitarised zone between 100 and 120 kilometres wide (62 to 75 miles) should be established in Russian border territory with Ukraine as part of any post-war settlement, an adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office has said.
Europe Rebuffs China’s Efforts to Split the West in Pushing Ukraine Cease-Fire
European officials are questioning Beijing’s ability to be an honest broker.
Russia’s Lavrov Tells China Envoy ‘Serious Obstacles’ to Ukraine Peace
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told China’s special envoy Li Hui on Friday that there were “serious obstacles” to resuming peace talks, blaming Ukraine and Western countries.
Russia and China hit back at a G7 that saw them as a threat
Moscow and Beijing lashed out against the G7 summit in Hiroshima, where leaders of major democracies pledged new measures targeting Russia and spoke in one voice on their growing concerns over China.
Ukraine’s Zelenskyy seeks Arab League support on Saudi visit
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls on the Arab League to help protect ‘our people’ and the Ukrainian Muslim community amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Ukraine tells China envoy peace plan must not lose land to Russia
Ukraine’s foreign minister told China’s envoy that Kyiv would not accept any peace proposal that involved a loss of territory to Russia or that would freeze the conflict.
Council of Europe leaders agree to set up Register of damage for Ukraine
The leaders of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states decided on Wednesday to establish a Register of damage caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Ukraine conflict: Black Sea grain deal extended for two months
An agreement allowing Ukraine to export millions of tonnes of grain through the Black Sea despite the ongoing conflict with Russia has been extended.
African nations to send peace mission to Ukraine, Russia
Six African leaders plan to travel to Russia and Ukraine “as soon as is possible” to help find a resolution to the war, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday.
Putin says ‘real war’ being waged against Russia on lower-key Victory Day
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that a “real war” was being waged against Russia amid muted Victory Day celebrations on Tuesday, with many mass events canceled over security concerns after last week’s drone attack on the Kremlin and a looming Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Talks On Black Sea Grain Fail To Reach Agreement On New Ship Authorizations
Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the UN were unable to reach an agreement on the continuation of Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports, a UN spokesman said on May 5.
Russia paves way for deportations from annexed Ukrainian regions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that gives people living in parts of Ukraine under Moscow’s control a path to Russian citizenship, but means those who decline or who do not legalise their status could be deported.
Can China broker peace in Ukraine? Don’t rule it out
Xi Jinping’s phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy was a long time coming, but it should not have come as a surprise. Beijing is on everyone’s shortlist when it comes to prospective peacemakers in Ukraine.
China’s Xi speaks with Zelensky for first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone Wednesday, in their first known conversation since Russia’s invasion, as Beijing ramps up efforts to position itself as a potential peacemaker.
‘Would Macron give up Bordeaux?’ Ukraine adviser attacks French president over peace plans
Oleksiy Danilov says it is not up to France to negotiate on behalf of Kyiv ‘behind the Ukrainian people’s backs’.
In letter to Putin, UN chief proposes way forward on Ukraine Black Sea grain deal
UN Secretary-General Guterres has proposed to Russian President Putin a “way forward aimed at the improvement, extension and expansion” of the Black Sea Grain deal, a UN spokesperson said on Monday.
NATO Agrees Ukraine Will Become a Member
All NATO members have agreed that Ukraine will eventually join the military alliance, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Friday.
Russian Foreign Minister praises framework proposed by China and Brazil to end conflict in Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov praised a framework promoted by China and Brazil, which proposes an end to the conflict in Ukraine.
Ukraine Options Paper: Minority and Language Rights
This paper outlines the importance of minority and language rights for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, in light of international legal and soft law standards.
Ukraine criticises Brazil’s peace efforts and invites Lula to see invasion’s effects
Kyiv accuses Brazilian president’s initiative for giving equal weight to ‘the victim and the aggressor’.
Zelenskiy Calls For ‘Security Guarantees’ For Ukraine As Putin Ally Urges Moscow To End Fighting
President Zelenskiy urged NATO leaders to extend “effective security guarantees for Ukraine” ahead of the NATO summit in Vilnius in July, “even before we join the alliance.”
US should stop ‘encouraging’ Ukraine war, Brazilian president says
Brazilian President Lula told reporters in Beijing: “The United States needs to stop encouraging war and start talking about peace; the European Union needs to start talking about peace so that we can convince Putin and Zelensky that peace is in the interest of everyone and that war is only interesting, for now, to the two of them.”
Russia says Black Sea grain deal may be nearly over
Russia on Thursday said there would be no extension of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removed a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertiliser.
China’s Xi Jinping says “top priority” is to push for ceasefire in Ukraine and end war
Beijing’s “top priority” is to push for ceasefire and end the war in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping told EU Commission Chief Ursula Von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting Thursday.
Ukrainian official offers plan for a Crimea without Russia
A top Ukrainian official on Sunday outlined a series of steps the government in Kyiv would take after the country reclaims control of Crimea, including dismantling the strategic bridge that links the seized Black Sea peninsula to Russia.
Russia wants demilitarised buffer zones in Ukraine, says Putin ally
Russia wants to create demilitarised buffer zones inside Ukraine around areas it has annexed, an ally of President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying it might be necessary to push deeper into Ukraine if such zones cannot be set up.
What Russia-Chinese joint statement says about Ukraine
Russia and China issued a joint statement on Thursday following talks between presidents Putin and Jinping. Here is what it says about Ukraine.
Zelenskiy: Kyiv proposed that Beijing join Ukraine’s peace formula, still waiting for response
President Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that Kyiv had suggested to China that Beijing join a Ukrainian peace formula to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, but that it was still waiting for an answer.
Ukraine Black Sea grain deal extended, UN and Turkey say
A deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain over the Black Sea, which had been due to expire on Saturday, has been renewed, Turkish President Erdogan and the United Nations have announced.
International court issues war crimes warrant for Putin
The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
Russia’s attacks, torture in Ukraine, could be crimes against humanity: UN rights probe
According to the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, set up one year ago at the request of the Human Rights Council, Russian troops committed a “wide range” of violations across the country, many of which are war crimes.
Ukraine will join NATO but in ‘long-term’: Stoltenberg
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance in the “long-term”, but stressed that the immediate issue is it remaining an independent nation in the face of Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskiy open to China’s peace plan but rejects compromise with ‘sick’ Putin
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has cautiously welcomed China’s peace plan to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but said it would be acceptable only if it led to Vladimir Putin pulling his troops out from all occupied Ukrainian territory.
China calls for Russia-Ukraine ceasefire as claims to neutrality questioned
China reiterates calls for a political settlement to the Ukraine conflict on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, as Beijing comes under increasing pressure from the US and its allies over its growing partnership with Moscow. In a newly released position paper, China’s Foreign Ministry called for a resumption of peace talks, an end to unilateral sanctions, and stressed its opposition to the use of nuclear weapons.
UN condemns Russian invasion ahead of anniversary
The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago. It called for the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine and a halt to fighting. The motion was backed by 141 nations with 32 abstaining and seven – including Russia – voting against.
China urges end to Ukraine war, calls for peace talks
China made a fresh call for a cease-fire and peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, seeking to cast itself as a neutral mediator in a one-year-old conflict during which Beijing has struggled to maintain its close partnership with Moscow while not further inflaming tensions with the West.
Ukraine Options Paper: Energy
This paper examines the energy supply and security dimensions to potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
Ukrainians are united in rejection of any compromise with the Kremlin
A comprehensive nationwide survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center in mid-December 2022 illustrates that Ukrainians have faith in victory, while also highlighting nationwide opposition to any compromises with the Kremlin.
Former Israeli PM: Putin promised not to kill Zelenskyy
A former Israeli prime minister who served briefly as a mediator at the start of Russia’s war with Ukraine says he drew a promise from the Russian president not to kill his Ukrainian counterpart.
European Commission to set up Center for Prosecution of Russia’s ‘Crime of Aggression’
The European Commission on Thursday announced the launch of a center to prosecute Russia for the “crime of aggression,” the latest international effort designed to hold Russian leaders accountable for the invasion of Ukraine.
EU assembly wants special court for Russia’s war in Ukraine
The European Union’s assembly called on the member states on Thursday to back the creation of a special court to judge any war crime of aggression by Russia in Ukraine.
Kyiv rejects Putin’s Russian Orthodox Christmas truce
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his defence minister to impose a 36-hour ceasefire on the Ukrainian front line. Mr Putin asked Ukraine to reciprocate, but Kyiv quickly rejected the request.
Explainer: What is Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan?
President Zelenskiy has been vigorously promoting his 10-point peace plan, discussing it with US President Joe Biden among others, and urging world leaders to hold a Global Peace Summit based on it.
Despite Putin’s claims, Ukraine peace talks look unlikely in near future
As a year dominated by Russia’s war on Ukraine draws to a close, Vladimir Putin has made a point of suggesting he is open to peace talks, with comments that have been roundly dismissed by Kyiv and the West as a ruse at a time when the prospect of negotiations in the near future appears extremely remote.
Putin says Russia wants to end war in Ukraine
President Putin said on Thursday that Russia wants an end to the war in Ukraine and that this would inevitably involve a diplomatic solution.
Ukraine diplomatic flurry centers on war, not peace
Diplomacy is ramping up around Russia’s war in Ukraine, but rather than focusing on negotiations, talks are centered on hardening each side’s battlefield position before a potential Russian offensive that Ukraine and its allies expect early next year.
Kremlin warning: More US arms to Ukraine will aggravate war
The Kremlin warned Wednesday that increasing the supply of U.S. arms to Ukraine would aggravate the devastating 10-month war ignited by Russia’s invasion, and Russia’s defense minister called for expanding Moscow’s military by at least 500,000 troops.
Kremlin says Christmas ceasefire not on the agenda in Ukraine
Russia said on Wednesday it had not received any proposals about a “Christmas ceasefire” in Ukraine, as fighting looks set to drag on through the winter.
Russia demands annexations recognised before talks
Russia says the West’s refusal to recognise “new territories” seized from Ukraine makes peace talks harder, after President Joe Biden indicated he would be ready to meet Vladimir Putin.
EU seeks tribunal to probe possible Russian war crimes in Ukraine
The European Union will try to set up a specialised court, backed by the United Nations, to investigate and prosecute possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, European Commision President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.
G-20 leaders end summit condemning Russia despite divisions
Members of the Group of 20 leading economies ended their summit Wednesday with a declaration of firm condemnation of the war in Ukraine and a warning that the conflict is making an already delicate world economy worse.
Russia Rejects Ukraine’s Negotiating Terms
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that Ukraine has put forward “unrealistic and inadequate” terms for future peace talks.
Zelenskyy outlines Ukraine’s 10-point Formula for Peace at G20 summit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has outlined 10 proposals that comprise Ukraine’s “formula for peace” in his video address to the G20 summit in Bali.
General Assembly adopts resolution on Russian reparations for Ukraine
The UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution that calls for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine, as ambassadors met to resume their emergency special session devoted to the conflict.
Some Russia Sanctions Could Extend Beyond Ukraine War’s End, Janet Yellen Says
Treasury secretary says Moscow hasn’t yet shown a willingness to negotiate but she could foresee leaving some measures in place after hostilities cease ‘given what’s happened’.
Russia says no agreement yet to extend Black Sea grain deal
Russia said on Saturday there was no agreement yet to extend a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea, repeating its insistence on unhindered access to world markets for its own food and fertiliser exports.
Zelenskyy open to talks with Russia — on Ukraine’s terms
Ukraine’s president has suggested he’s open to peace talks with Russia, softening his refusal to negotiate with Moscow as long as President Vladimir Putin is in power while sticking to Kyiv’s core demands.
Senior White House Official Involved in Undisclosed Talks With Top Putin Aides
Jake Sullivan has had confidential discussions with Russian counterparts amid concerns over escalation, nuclear threats. President Biden’s top national-security adviser has engaged in recent months in confidential conversations with top aides to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine Options Paper: Sanctions Relief and Security Guarantees
This paper examines the options on triggers, conditions and modalities for relaxing sanctions as part of an eventual peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, and for their reimposition in connection with verification and monitoring of settlement implementation.
U.S. privately asks Ukraine to show it’s open to negotiate with Russia
The encouragement is aimed not at pushing Ukraine to the negotiating table, but ensuring it maintains a moral high ground in the eyes of its international backers.
UN Security Council denies Russia call for bio weapons probe
The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected Russia’s attempt to establish a commission to investigate its unfounded claims that Ukraine and the United States are carrying out “military biological” activities that violate the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons.
Russia agrees to rejoin Ukraine grain export deal
Russia’s defence ministry says it received ‘sufficient’ guarantees from Kyiv on demilitarising the Black Sea corridor. Russia has said it will rejoin a UN-backed agreement to allow the export of grain from Ukraine via a safe Black Sea corridor, with shipments expected to resume on Wednesday.
Ukraine Options Paper: War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide
This paper presents potential solutions for transitional justice and criminal accountability in connection with a peace process for Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Russia halts grain deal after ‘massive’ Black Sea Fleet attack
Russia has announced it is suspending its involvement in the internationally-brokered deal that allows Ukraine to export grain from its Black Sea ports. It comes after Russia accused Ukraine of a “massive” drone attack on the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea.
Not much progress in Black Sea grain deal talks – Russian envoy
Talks on extending a July deal that resumed Ukraine Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports are not making much progress because Russian concerns are not being taken into proper account, Russia’s U.N. ambassador in Geneva said on Thursday.
Putin tightens grip on Ukraine and Russia with martial law
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law Wednesday in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed and gave all regional governors in Russia emergency powers that open the door for sweeping new restrictions throughout the country.
Ukraine Options Paper: Select Humanitarian Issues
This paper examines the humanitarian issues generated by the Ukraine conflict, the specific rules of international humanitarian law designed to address them, and the options for doing so in a peace settlement.
Ukraine war: UN General Assembly condemns Russia annexation
The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine. The resolution was supported by 143 countries, while 35 states – including China and India – abstained.
Zelensky asks for international observers on Belarus border, offers ‘peace formula’
Ukraine does not plan military actions against Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during an extraordinary G7 summit led by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Lukashenko says Belarus and Russia to deploy joint military group
Belarusian president says the two allies will deploy a military task force, without specifying the location. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus and Russia will deploy a joint military task force in response to what he called an aggravation of tension on the country’s western borders.
Zelenskiy decree rules out Ukraine talks with Putin as ‘impossible’
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy signed a decree on Tuesday formally declaring the prospect of any Ukrainian talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin “impossible”, but leaving the door open to talks with Russia.
Ukraine Options Paper: Recovery Operations and International Commitments
This paper examines the economic recovery and reconstruction operations on the path towards a peace settlement in Ukraine.
Draft Kiev Compact on Security Guarantees for Ukraine
Prof Weller provides commentary on the Yermak-Rasmussen Report on Security Guarantees for Ukraine, along with a draft Kyiv Compact on Security Guarantees.
What Russian annexation means for Ukraine’s regions
How will Russia annex four regions that it has occupied, but only partially, when they are in the middle of a war zone? Vladimir Putin has signed an accord to annex the occupied regions, after declaring that Russia would never give them up and would defend them with all means available.
Putin vows to ‘protect our land using all our means’ as he claims four regions of Ukraine for Russia
The Russian president has declared Russian ownership of four regions of Ukraine and threatened Ukraine’s supporters in a 37-minute speech railing against the West.
Putin illegally annexes Ukraine land; Kyiv seeks NATO entry
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties Friday to illegally annex more occupied Ukrainian territory in a sharp escalation of his war. Ukraine’s president countered with a surprise application to join the NATO military alliance.
Russia vetoes UN Security Council resolution on Ukraine annexations
Russia on Friday vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning Moscow’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories. China, India and Brazil abstained from the vote, which came hours after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree incorporating four Ukrainian regions into Russia.
Ukraine accelerates bid to join NATO after Russia’s annexation
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country is submitting an “accelerated” application to join the NATO military alliance, after Russian leader Vladimir Putin proclaimed the annexation of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions.
US introduces resolution condemning Russia over so-called referendums in Ukraine at UN Security Council meeting
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield introduced a resolution condemning Russia over the so-called referendums being carried out in four regions of Ukraine.
Ukraine war: Russia claims win in occupied Ukraine ‘sham’ referendums
Four so-called referendums have ended in Russian-held regions of Ukraine – votes which Moscow may use as grounds to annex more territory. Moscow-installed officials in the regions are now claiming almost total support among those who took part in the disputed votes on joining Russia.
Russian Ally Kazakhstan Says It Won’t Recognize Referendum Results From Ukraine
Kazakhstan, a close ally of Russia, will not recognize the results of so-called referendums organized by Moscow on Ukraine’s territories occupied by Russian troops.
Ukraine Options Paper: Peace Stabilisation and Demilitarisation
This paper examines the options for peace stabilisation and demilitarisation, with a focus on conventional weapons.
Russia holds annexation votes; Ukraine says residents coerced
Russia launched referendums on Friday aimed at annexing four occupied regions of Ukraine, drawing condemnation from Kyiv and Western nations who dismissed the votes as a sham and pledged not to recognise their results.
Latest Developments in Ukraine Dangerous, Disturbing, Secretary-General Tells Security Council, Calling for Redoubled Efforts to End ‘Senseless’ War
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Russia’s war in Ukraine shows no sign of letting up. The past seven months have seen unspeakable suffering and devastation. The latest developments are dangerous and disturbing.
Putin orders partial military call-up, sparking protests
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of reservists Wednesday to bolster his forces in Ukraine, a deeply unpopular move that sparked rare protests across the country and led to almost 1,200 arrests.
Ukraine war: Occupied areas call urgent vote to join Russia
Four areas of Ukraine under Moscow’s control have announced plans for urgent so-called referendums on joining Russia, which would pave the way for Russian annexation. Russia’s invasion has stalled in recent months and Ukraine has recaptured swathes of territory in the north-east.
Ukraine says Russian referendums will destroy possibility of talks
Any referendums on joining Russia in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories would destroy any remaining window for talks between Kyiv and Moscow, Ukrainian publication Liga.net cited the Ukrainian president’s office spokesman as saying on Tuesday.
Turkey’s Erdogan: Russia’s Putin willing to end war
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he believes Russia’s leader is seeking an end to the war he began in Ukraine, and that a “significant step” will be made. He said his impression from recent talks with Vladimir Putin was that he wanted to “end this as soon as possible”.
Western Leaders Dismiss Referendums Planned In Russian-Controlled Areas Of Ukraine As Illegitimate
Western leaders have rejected plans by authorities in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to hold referendums in the coming days on joining the territories to Russia.
Erdogan Says Finding ‘Dignified Way Out’ For Both Sides Could End War In Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a diplomatic solution that gives Russia and Ukraine a “dignified way out” of the crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion.
Putin vows to press attack on Ukraine; courts India, China
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Friday to press his attack on Ukraine despite Ukraine’s latest counteroffensive and warned that Moscow could ramp up its strikes on the country’s vital infrastructure if Ukrainian forces target facilities in Russia.
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