Profile In Focus | Minsk 2 - Part 2 (2016 - 2017)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile In Focus | Minsk 2 - Part 2 (2016 - 2017)
“President Barack Obama talks with European leaders before their meeting in Hannover, Germany, April 25, 2016. From left: British Prime Minister David Cameron, the President, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.” (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza). Under public domain.
In 2016, the Ukraine conflict and the Minsk 2 Protocol continued to dominate international discussions. The Minsk Agreement, aimed at achieving a ceasefire and political settlement, faced skepticism and criticism from various sources.
The year began with the European Parliament assessing the state of the Minsk II Agreement. While some progress had been made, the path to peace remained frozen due to ongoing violations and challenges. The Atlantic Council provided insights into the complexities of the agreement, highlighting issues such as decentralization, special status, and federalism.
As 2016 unfolded, the situation in Ukraine took a turn for the worse. Vox reported that the war in Ukraine was escalating, with renewed fighting and increasing tensions. Critics argued that the Minsk deal only legitimized the ugly facts on the ground, allowing pro-Russian separatists to maintain control over certain territories.
The United Nations stressed the urgent need for progress towards a political settlement in eastern Ukraine. Assistant Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman briefed the Security Council on the ongoing conflict and highlighted the importance of finding a resolution. Despite these efforts, the Minsk agreement faced obstacles, and its effectiveness was questioned.
The debate surrounding the Minsk 2 Protocol continued throughout the year. Brookings published an op-ed suggesting that while Minsk was not working, Kyiv should stay committed to it. Newsweek argued that Europe must maintain sanctions against Russia until the Minsk Accords were fully implemented. The Atlantic Council emphasized that scrapping the Minsk agreement at that time was not the solution.
Russia's ongoing violations in Ukraine drew international attention. The U.S. Mission to the OSCE released a statement expressing concern about Russia's actions. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace explored the role of sanctions in U.S.-Russian relations and their impact on the conflict.
The Ukrainian State Treaty, proposed by Ukraine, aimed to address the conflict. Foreign Policy argued that it was an offer Putin couldn't refuse. However, the increasing tensions between Ukraine and Russia raised doubts about the effectiveness of the Minsk agreement in solving the conflict.
Forbes highlighted the presence of Russian combat medals in Ukraine, contradicting Putin's claim of no Russian troops being involved. The Economist provided an overview of the Minsk agreements, explaining their provisions and the challenges faced in their implementation.
The Council of Europe explored legal remedies for human rights violations in Ukrainian territories outside the control of Ukrainian authorities. Russian President Putin stated that the Minsk accord should be the basis for resolving the Ukraine crisis, while German Chancellor Merkel and French President Hollande acknowledged the lack of alternative options.
In the midst of these discussions, the failure of Western diplomacy in Ukraine and Syria was debated, and concerns were raised about the fragility in Europe. Renewed fighting in Ukraine pushed towns to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, and Ukrainian troops endured the harsh realities of daily life in bunkers.
Amidst these developments, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine met with Russia's Surkov in Minsk, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly highlighted the importance of advancing stability in the Black Sea region. However, the Russian truce monitors announced their departure from Ukraine, further complicating the situation.
As 2016 drew to a close, the proxy war between Russia and the US and Europe in Ukraine continued. The Minsk agreement was still a subject of debate, with questions lingering about its chances of success.
The events of 2016 demonstrated the complex nature of the conflict in Ukraine and the challenges faced in implementing the Minsk 2 Protocol. The ongoing violations, skepticism, and differing perspectives among stakeholders made it clear that achieving a lasting peace in the region would require further efforts and diplomatic initiatives.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on May 16, 2023
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Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Minsk 2 - Part 2 (2016 - 2017):
Ukraine and the Minsk II agreement | On a frozen path to peace - European Parliament January 2016
Why Ukraine's war is suddenly getting worse - Vox February 22, 2016
Minsk Deal Legitimizes Ugly Facts on the Ground, Critics Say - VOA News March 2, 2016
Nuland: No Deadline For Ukraine Vote, Sanctions To Stay Until Minsk Fulfilled - RFERL April 27, 2016
Tough choices - DW May 10, 2016
Minsk is not working, but Kyiv should stay with it | OP-ED - BROOKINGS May 21, 2016
Why Europe Must Keep Sanctions Against Russia - Newsweek June 5, 2016
Now Is Not the Time to Scrap the Minsk Agreement - Atlantic Council June 29, 2016
The Ukrainian State Treaty: An Offer Putin Can’t Refuse - Foreign Policy August 1, 2016
Why the Minsk agreement will not solve the Ukraine conflict | Opinion - UPI August 15, 2016
What are the Minsk agreements? - The Economist September 14, 2016
Russia's Putin says Minsk accord should be basis for Ukraine solution - Reuters October 19, 2016
Merkel and Hollande fail to ‘achieve miracles’ on Ukraine - POLITICO October 20, 2016
Syria, Ukraine, and the Failure of Western Diplomacy - Carnegie Europe December 8, 2016
Kiev Is Fueling the War in Eastern Ukraine, Too - Foreign Policy February 6, 2017
Minsk II at two years - BROOKINGS February 15, 2017
Judy Asks: Can the Minsk Agreement Succeed? - Carnegie Europe February 22, 2017
Everyone Seems To Have A Peace Plan For Ukraine - RFERL February 23, 2017
Ukraine three years on: a basis for optimism - NATO REVIEW March 10, 2017
Merkel, Putin: No alternative to Minsk deal on Ukraine - Al Jazeera May 2, 2017
Merkel: EU will lift Russia sanctions when Minsk accords implemented - POLITICO May 2, 2017
U.S. doesn't want to be 'handcuffed' to Ukraine agreement - Reuters June 14, 2017
Russia, Not Ukraine, Is Serial Violator of Ceasefire Agreement - Atlantic Council June 21, 2017
Who is who in the Minsk process | Infographics - Euromaidan Press July 18, 2017
U.S. Envoy On Ukraine Conflict Meets With Russia's Surkov In Minsk - RFERL August 21, 2017
Ukraine crisis: Russian truce monitors to leave - BBC News December 18, 2017