Decision by the Federal Political Committee of Yabloko No 149 of 25.01.2022, published on 27.01.2022

Photo by Vladimir Trefilov / RIA Novosti

The life, health, safety and well-being of millions of people in Russia and Ukraine are under threat. A military clash between the two neighbouring states is becoming more and more likely, fraught with huge casualties. This is a conflict of a pan-European scale, which can develop into a global one.

The consequences of the war with Ukraine are predictable for Russia: in any case, whatever the outcome, this will be the beginning of the destruction of Russia’s statehood, a harbinger of its economic collapse and territorial disintegration.

The primary task of a responsible government is to extinguish the danger of war. The authorities must do everything necessary to prevent escalation of tension, using all possible political and diplomatic means.

The duty and responsibility of the society is to provide all possible assistance to the authorities in solving this vital task. Ensuring the peace and security of people is the highest priority.

In the current emergency situation, the Yabloko party presents to the Russian society and the President of Russia a plan of specific actions to prevent war and save the country.

The main thing that needs to be done is an immediate de-escalation, that is, the withdrawal of Russian troops from the Ukrainian border. This is today a necessary condition for any successful negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the US and NATO. This is what protecting the interests and security of Russia means now.

The conflict around Ukraine is a part and a consequence of the aggravated global confrontation between Russia, on the one hand, and the US and NATO, on the other. What is necessary and possible to do right now to normalise global international relations? Such a programme developed by Russian experts and highly qualified specialists does exist, and the Yabloko party proposes it to the President.

In February 2021, Russia and the United States have already extended the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty (START-3). This is important, but completely insufficient. For Russia the way out of the current situation could be negotiations with the US and NATO on a wide range of issues. Such negotiations can evolve on the following issues:

— the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was denounced more than two years ago, in August 2019, should be resumed. Russia is concerned that the US could deploy medium-range missiles in Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, that could reach Moscow in minutes. Meanwhile, Russian cruise missiles in Kaliningrad could reached Berlin just as quickly. A deal that bans these missiles from Europe but leaves the US the option of deploying them in Asia against China—essentially a revived regional INF Treaty—would be objectively beneficial to both sides;

— Moscow’s demand to refrain from deploying ground-based medium-range missiles outside the national territories of Russia and the United States can become the basis for negotiations to update the 1987 INF Treaty, which fell apart in 2018, as it is believed, after violations by Russia;

— Russia and NATO could explore new mechanisms for monitoring the deployment of conventional forces and holding military exercises, as well as agree to increase transparency and expand communications;

—  it is possible to discuss the revision of the deployment of NATO troops in the countries bordering on Russia, subject to a radical improvement in relations between Moscow and Kiyv and the coordination of restrictions on the deployment of Russian forces and weapons in Belarus and Kaliningrad;

— it is necessary to agree on open, equal, and mutual arms control. This applies to both conventional and nuclear forces. It is well known in practice that arms control reduces tension;

— productive negotiations are also possible on a whole range of military issues: on confidence-building measures, limitation of military activities, the scale of military exercises, and transparency, i.e. on those issues that are of interest both to the United States, NATO, and Russia. All this can become the basis for continuing a broad dialogue on strategic stability;

— discussing, developing and concluding agreements on cybersecurity can become truly promising.

In our opinion, the start of specific negotiations in these areas is a real way out of the difficult situation that has now developed in relations between Russia and the West and, at the same time, a way to maintain peace between Russia and Ukraine. What is needed is political will and an understanding of the enormous responsibility.

Sometimes modern leaders find it humiliating to resort to the services of qualified mediation, preferring to solve problems with the help of force.

We consider such a path categorically unacceptable for our country.

The recent events once again confirm the need for practical implementation of the Plan for a Peaceful Settlement in Donbass (https://2018.yavlinsky.ru/donbass/ ).

In particular, the Yabloko party considers it necessary as a first step to implement the following:

1. Withdraw all units of the Russian armed forces from Donbass, no matter under what cover they operate there. Stop military, financial, diplomatic and other support for separatist forces and movements operating on the territory of Ukraine.

2. To contribute in every possible way to the international peacekeeping forces in terms of ensuring the security of the population of Donbass.

3. Conduct an exchange of prisoners on the principle of “all for all” and declare an amnesty.

4. To offer the Normandy Four countries and the United States a form of international guardianship over the “territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions with a special procedure for local self-government” based on the institution of international guardianship provided for in Chapter 12 of the UN Charter, using the experience of the 1995 Dayton Accords and the 1954 Saar Agreements.

5. Conclude a special multilateral (Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, the US and the EU) agreement on the interim status of “the territories of Donetsk and Lugansk regions with a special procedure for local self-government” under the auspices of the UN Security Council, according to which all powers in these territories are transferred to international governing bodies for the period until the final settlement of the conflict, and legal proceedings, law enforcement, and control abroad are carried out by representatives of the countries participating in the agreement.

6. Develop and introduce a “special economic zone” regime based on a combination of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and the renewal of the CIS Free Trade Area Agreement. Form special funds for economic assistance to restore the economy and social sphere of the region.

7. Only after the recognition by all parties to the agreement that all the necessary conditions have been created to ensure the security and normal life of the population, and the entire territory of Donbass will be transferred under the full control of Ukraine.

The Yabloko party is ready to organise and responsibly participate in the civil international negotiation process aimed at implementing these proposals.

We consider it important to conduct direct negotiations on the principles of people’s diplomacy with all interested parties. We will do our best to attract to public diplomacy people who are respected, courageous and honest, and who understand the essence of the situation and cultural traditions from all sides. Perhaps the negotiations will take a long time, but this is much better than a “good” war. The guns fall silent during negotiations.

We propose organising an open and equal public dialogue between representatives of the civil society of Russia and Ukraine in order to prepare direct negotiations between Presidents Putin and Zelensky. We consider such a dialogue vital to prevent bloodshed and war, and we are ready to contribute in every possible way to its early start.

Russia and Ukraine will always be neighbours. Sooner or later a direct dialogue will take place. Better sooner than later. Better instead than after war. There is still time for such negotiations. The price of these negotiations is saved human lives, and the free and secure future of millions of people.

The Yabloko party is waiting for President Putin’s response to the proposals to prevent war.

Grigory Yavlinsky,

Chairman of the Yabloko Federal Political Committee