Why in news?

• Recently, Ukraine President Zelenskyy had a telephonic conversation with prime minister Narendra Modi.
• During the conversation, Zelensky emphasised that as the current president of the G20, India should support his 10-point peace plan to end the war with Russia.
  • Ukrainian President had laid out the “Peace Formula” at the G-20 summit, held in November 2022, at Bali.

What’s in today’s article:

• Russia – Ukraine War
• News Summary

Russia – Ukraine War

• On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea. This was the biggest attack on a European state since World War II.
• So far, Moscow has been denied the swift victory it anticipated, and has failed to capture major cities across the country, including Kyiv, the capital.
• Still, Russia has superior military might, and Putin has indicated that his ultimate goal is to capture Kyiv, topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government, and subsume the country into Russia’s orbit.
• 

Why Russia invaded Ukraine?

• Russia wants a guarantee that Ukraine can never join NATO
  • Russia's main demand is a commitment from NATO to end its further expansion into former Soviet republics — especially Ukraine.
    • Russia wants NATO to rescind a 2008 promise that Ukraine could someday join the defense alliance.
• Russia wants NATO arms out of Eastern Europe
• Russia wants NATO to stop deploying its weapons and forces in countries in Central and Eastern Europe that joined the alliance after 1997.
• Russia wants a ban on NATO missiles within striking distance
  • Russia has nervously watched as NATO has demonstrated it can deepen its involvement in Ukraine — providing weapons and training.
  • NATO missiles on Ukrainian soil might pose serious threat to Russia’s security.
• Russia wants autonomy for eastern Ukraine
  • Russia says Ukraine must meet its obligations under 2015 agreements.
    • The peace deal, known as the Minsk agreements, was signed to end the fighting between Ukraine's army and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
    • The Minsk agreements also provided additional autonomy to the separatist Russian-speaking territories in the Donbas.

News Summary: Peace Formula

• Radiation & Nuclear Safety
  • Russia’s nuclear arsenal has fuelled worries amid the war. Also, there is a growing concern regarding attack near the Europe’s largest nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine.
  • Zelenskyy is seeking demilitarisation and guarantees against attacks on Zaporizhzhia and other Ukrainian nuclear plants.
• Food Security
  • A global food crisis triggered by the war led to an unprecedented agreement in the form of Black Sea Grain Initiative.
    • The agreement, brokered in July by the UN and Turkey , allows Ukraine to export its agricultural products from Black Sea ports via a protected corridor.
    • It also allows Russian food and fertilisers to reach global markets.
  • The agreement is an ad-hoc measure that requires renewal every 120 days.
  • Hence, Ukraine is seeking a lasting solution to enable it to safely ship agricultural consignments without the need for periodic deals with Moscow.
• Energy Security
  • Russia has destroyed at least 40% of Ukraine’s energy facilities since the war began and has stepped up attacks against such targets with the onset of winter.
  • Zelenskyy wants an assurance that Russia will not hamper or further hurt his country’s ability to provide energy to the people.
• Release Of All Prisoners of War, Deported Persons
  • Zelenskyy has called for the return of all prisoners of war and deportees held by Russia.
• Implementation Of UN Charter, Restoration Of Territorial Integrity, World Order
  • Zelenskyy has sought that territory annexed by Russia should be restored to Kyiv’s control.
• Withdrawal Of Russian Troops, End Of Hostilities
• Justice, War Tribunals And Reparations
  • Ukrainian officials said in September they had documented 34,000 potential war crimes committed by Russian forces.
  • They also claimed that mass burial sites had been found across territory wrested from Russian control.
  • Ukraine wants the war tribunals to look into the matter.
• Countering Ecocide
  • Zelenskyy has sought to highlight the loss to the environment as a result of the war.
• Security Guarantees
  • Zelenskyy is seeking guarantees that will ensure it does not have to live in constant fear of further Russian aggression.
• Confirmation Of War’s End - To assure the world that the war is really over.