Snyder: Russia has violated all previous agreements with Ukraine

American historian Timothy Snyder warned on Wednesday in a commentary for E24, the economic website of the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, that the US-Russian peace plan favors the Kremlin, ignores Ukraine and, instead of ending the war, may increase the risk of new conflicts.

One of the most important contemporary researchers of Eastern Europe has criticized the revealed peace plan for Ukraine. The document, prepared by associates of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, would, according to Snyder, force Ukraine to agree to conditions favorable only to the Kremlin.

According to Snyder by accepting Trump's proposal, nuclear weapons could be recognized by states threatened with aggression as the only guarantee of their political and territorial sovereigntybecause in his opinion, only the Kremlin's nuclear threats were supposed to stop the international community from getting involved in the direct defense of Ukraine attacked by Russians.

The historian also emphasized that Trump's plan undermines the international order based on the inviolability of borders. Accepting the Russian invasion as a fait accompli would send a signal that aggression can pay off and can once again become the norm in international politics.

Snyder assessed that concessions to Putin will strengthen him politically and psychologically; the Russian leader may feel encouraged to take further military action in Europe. And because the disclosed White House proposal does not contain any real control mechanisms, the US will not be able to effectively enforce the commitments made by Moscow in the peace agreement.

“Given that Russia has violated all existing agreements with Ukraine, the Kremlin's assurances that it will not attempt to annex further Ukrainian territory seem meaningless. American security guarantees also make no sense, especially under an administration that does not attach importance to honesty and integrity,” the American historian warned.

He also pointed out that the document ignores the key issue of rebuilding Ukraine for lasting peace. Even though Kiev's allies have already prepared specific support projects, the peace plan ignores their role in the post-war reality.

However, the most serious problem for Snyder remains the way of preparing the peace proposals. Ukraine and its European partners were excluded from this process, which, according to him, would make the imposed solution ineffective from the outset. The historian warned that this approach will not end the war, but will increase the likelihood of further conflicts. In his opinion, Ukraine's voice and the position of European allies are indispensable and must constitute the basis of any real peace process.

From Oslo Mieszko Czarnecki (PAP)

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