Russia has repeatedly demonstrated disregard for its obligations and commitments – on national and international levels. It has for decades attacked most basic principles of the global order – sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity – to protect its mythical ‘sphere of privileged interests’ and the incomes of its privileged few. Russia has selectively violated such arms control agreements as the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty or the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, but chose to honor the ones that allow it to develop its asymmetric strength in the European region.
Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008 and its military intervention in Ukraine beginning in 2014 have not only threatened European security, but also violated the principles of the international order enshrined in the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, and the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. Russia has shown disregard for its own political commitments, such as the 2008 ceasefire between Russia and Georgia or the February 2015 Minsk agreement. More than a year since the Minsk agreement was signed, Russia still has not fulfilled the first three commitments listed in that document: ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons from proscribed zones, and unhindered access for OSCE monitors to the entire territory of the Donbas.
It is important for the friends of Ukraine to understand Russia’s deceitful style of diplomacy where commitments and negotiations are only tactical cover up for the aggressor’s ultimate goal – to destroy Ukraine. This issue of Ukraine in Flames illustrates how challenging and useless negotiations with Russia can be.
UKRAINE IN FLAMES project is created by Ukraine Crisis Media Center, Ukrainian Catholic University’s analitical center and NGO “Euroatlantic Course”. We are aiming at searching a loud support for Ukraine in the war started by Russia on the 24th of February 2022.
If you want to support Ukraine against Russian aggression, check the link with recommendations by Ukraine Crisis Media Center – https://uacrisis.org/en/help-ukraine.
NGO Euroatlantic Course collects donations to support Ukrainian Army and civilians – https://eac.org.ua/en/main-page/.