Press Release, 13.06.2023

It became clear on 24 February, 2022, that there are no good options for the development of the situation. Since then, there have been only bad options and even worse ones. And now there is only one correct and, most importantly, ultimately inevitable solution: stop killing of many thousands of people and destruction of the infrastructure of life by concluding a ceasefire agreement.

Then it will be possible to discuss borders, positions and roles, guarantees, and so on… Such a discussion will, certainly, take months, and possibly years. This will be a difficult and painful process, which, most likely, will be accompanied by breakdowns, some firefights, loud scandals, deceptions, threats and blackmail. However, in contrast to military operations, the prospects will come out against the background of this process, and people will not be dying on a masse scale. And this is the most important thing. Nothing could be more important than this.

Proposals about the need to conclude a ceasefire agreement have been heard increasingly more often. Some world political and spiritual leaders, respectful military experts, and most experienced diplomats have begun talking about this. The world is gradually beginning to understand that there will be no winners in a military clash, but there will be huge casualties, destroyed cities, millions of refugees, and the risk of global catastrophes will only grow. Public support is critical to any political initiative. This is of principled importance even in today’s authoritarian Russia. In order to gain this support, it is necessary to tell the truth: to explain, convince and repeat as much as necessary – that a ceasefire agreement in this conflict is the only solution that will save human lives and can give hope for a normal future for future generations.

The winners in this confrontation will be not those who win on the battlefield, but those who provide stable peace for their country and open the way to the future.

These topics were discussed by Grigory Yavlinsky in the Zhivoy Gvozd YouTube channel.

Grigory Yavlinsky

is Chairman of the Federal Political Committee of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko, Vice President of Liberal International, PhD in Economics, Professor of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.