Profile In Focus | Minsk 2 - Part 4 (2020 - 2021)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile In Focus | Minsk 2 - Part 4 (2020 - 2021)
“The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, accepted credentials from the ambassadors of a number of foreign countries: the Federal Republic of Germany - Anka Feldhusen” by the Office of the President of Ukraine under CC BY 4.0.
In 2020 and 2021, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the fate of the Minsk 2 Protocol, continued to be a matter of concern and debate. The year began with the U.S. Department of State reporting on compliance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe. Efforts to save the Minsk-2 peace deal were questioned, and deadly flare-ups on the eastern front line highlighted the ongoing violence.
International officials emphasized the crucial period ahead for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, while analysts discussed why Ukraine's frozen war was heating up again. Six years after the Maidan protests, the situation in Ukraine remained complex. The Minsk Conundrum was analyzed, with discussions on Western policy and Russia's war in eastern Ukraine. The deadlock in Minsk led to calls for the West to reject Russia's bid to limit Ukrainian sovereignty.
The importance of an independent and sovereign Ukraine for Euro-Atlantic security was emphasized by NATO. A deal for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was reached, aiming to take effect from July 27. However, divisions persisted, as a survey found deeply divided views in the contested Donbas region. Ukraine ruled out a return to Minsk peace talks as Russia tightened its grip on Belarus.
President Zelenskiy's visit to Paris was seen as an opportunity with potential gains. The siege of Ilovaisk, a critical event in the conflict, was examined, and Ukrainian leaders called for a revamp of the peace process. The preparation for voting in the Donbas region and concerns over armed blackmail were highlighted. The disappointment felt by Ukraine and the understanding of the situation by Anka Feldhusen were discussed.
Tensions in the Donbass region were reignited by a drone strike, and the Ukraine-Russia conflict was considered one of the most dangerous problems globally. The United States' possible reactions to Russia's posturing were analyzed, and the state of Ukraine-Russia relations was explored. The timing of any potential Russia move against Ukraine was speculated upon. Standing up to Putin was seen as the only credible option, while discussions on the Minsk agreements continued.
The Putin-Biden talks raised questions about the future of Ukraine, and the West was urged to either deter Russia or accept defeat. The stalemate in eastern Ukraine was examined, with the status quo serving both sides. The issue of autonomy for the occupied Donbas region and the opposition of Ukrainians to the Minsk accords in their current form were highlighted. The European Parliament passed a resolution on the situation at the Ukrainian border and in Russian-occupied territories. Overall, the complexities and challenges of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, along with the effectiveness of the Minsk 2 Protocol, remained unresolved.
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 4 (2020 - 2021):
Ukraine conflict: Can the Minsk-2 peace deal be saved? - DW February 12, 2020
Ukraine conflict: Deadly flare-up on eastern front line - BBC News February 18, 2020
Ukraine: Six years after the Maidan - BROOKINGS February 21, 2020
The Minsk Conundrum: Western Policy and Russia’s War in Eastern Ukraine - CHATHAM HOUSE MAY 22, 2020
An independent and sovereign Ukraine is key to Euro-Atlantic security - NATO REVIEW July 8, 2020
Deal reached for east Ukraine ceasefire from July 27 - Reuters July 22, 2020
Putin hedges his bets on Ukraine | Opinion - DW April 8, 2021
Planning a trip to Paris, Ukraine’s Zelenskiy has much to gain - BROOKINGS April 19, 2021
Ukrainian leader calls for revamp of peace process to end Donbas war - Foreign Policy April 25, 2021
Armed Blackmail Will Never Bring Peace to Eastern Ukraine - JACOBIN April 27, 2021
Anka Feldhusen understands why Ukraine is disappointed - Kyiv Post October 8, 2021
Ukraine’s Recent Drone Strike Reignites Tensions in Donbass - The National Interest October 31, 2021
Ukraine: The Most Dangerous Problem in the World - The Nation November 15, 2021
Ukraine-Russia relations - CHATHAM HOUSE NOVEMBER 24, 2021
Mud Could Help Decide Timing of Any Russia Move Against Ukraine - Bloomberg November 26, 2021
The Week In Russia: A Mine Disaster And A 'Destabilizing Fixation' - RFERL December 3, 2021
Factbox: What are the Minsk agreements on the Ukraine conflict? - Reuters December 6, 2021
Putin-Biden talks: What next for Ukraine? - BBC News December 7, 2021
The West Must Deter Russia or Accept Defeat - Foreign Policy December 13, 2021