Ukraine-Russia war can end only at the negotiation table: Experts
The end of end of the war and restoration of peace in Ukraine can only take place at the negotiation table, and not by focusing on the military gains, said international relations analysts and diplomats today.
The observations came at an international seminar on "Importance of Diplomacy in Conflict Resolution: The Current War between Russia and Ukraine" organised by the Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of North South University at its premises today.
Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mustafa Osman Turan, said Turkiye supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and considers Russian aggression to be unlawful and a blatant violation of international law according to the Charter of the United Nations.
He stated that Turkiye does not seek any kind of peace, but rather a "fair peace" that will result in the complete restoration of Ukraine's territories.
"We cannot give up on a diplomatic solution and emphasize the importance of multilateral efforts and a negotiated settlement in ending the war," Turan said.
Prof Dr Nicole Deitelhoff, director, Leibniz Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), Germany, said that both parties need to make concessions to negotiate and end this conflict.
"The rationale for sanctions against Russia is to increase the cost of war and regulate the future behavior and resist such unlawful aggression. This war also affected the food security around the globe and wheat prices are skyrocketing and triggered a refugee crisis," she said.
Professor Gunhild Hoogensen Gjrv of Security Studies, The Arctic University of Norway, stated that Russia invaded illegally but Ukraine is defending itself and diplomacy is difficult in such an unpredictable situation.
She went on to say that prior to the war, diplomacy started on this issue, and Ukraine had been dealing with the conflict for the last eight years. She also stated that neither side is willing to compromise, so it will be interesting to see what diplomacy can accomplish and whether international organisations can play a significant role.
Shahidul Haque, professorial fellow at the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) at NSU, said Russia views the war as one between Russia and the West - which could be a major cause of diplomacy failing in the context of this war.
He said diplomacy has become a hostage in this battle, and that diplomacy has no place as long as the parties are just concerned with security matters. However, diplomacy is the last hope because a peaceful settlement will not be achieved on the battlefield.
Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Vikentyevich Mantytskiy, said at the moment there is no place for true diplomacy, as Western countries keep pumping Ukraine with razor-edge weapons, their diplomats vehemently demand Russian defeat in the battlefield calling upon Ukraine to fight till the last Ukrainian.
He added, "As far as the contacts with the Ukrainian are concerned, we have never refused to talk, as evidenced from the meetings in Belarus and Turkiye."
However, for these meetings to be fruitful, it requires a constructive position from Kiev which presently is nowhere in sight. Moreover, the Ukrainian patrons in Europe and the US seem to bar Kiev from having any substantive interaction with Moscow, which makes all the efforts futile.
He also said that, for Moscow, diplomacy has always been the first choice. Their doors remain open for all faithful efforts, but it needs more than one party to negotiate. It also requires an ability to conduct a respectful dialogue, to be open minded and responsive towards aspirations and sensitivity of the other side. but these prerequisites are absent.