The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) annual session saw a meeting on the sidelines hosted by China and Brazil with the aim of garnering support for their peace plan for the Ukraine war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has disrupted global relations and economics, with numerous peace plans being proposed since. China and Brazil’s plan calls for avoiding escalation of fighting, resuming dialogue, providing humanitarian assistance, and opposing the use of nuclear weapons. Ukraine insists that only its peace plan, proposed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is acceptable to them.
Zelenskyy’s peace plan includes restoring safety around Europe’s largest Zaporizhzhia power plant, protecting Ukraine’s grain exports, restoring damaged power infrastructure, releasing prisoners and deported individuals, and establishing a special tribunal for war crimes. Russia, the aggressor in the conflict, has its own peace plan which includes Ukraine withdrawing troops from occupied territories and giving up on joining NATO before peace talks start. African leaders also proposed a peace plan in June 2023, recognising both Russia and Ukraine’s sovereignty and increasing humanitarian aid.
India has been involved in peace efforts, with Zelenskyy discussing implementing the Peace Formula with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While India believes negotiations are the only way forward, it has not put forward a peace plan of its own and has differences with Ukraine over how to work towards peace in Ukraine. Ukraine insists on only its plan being enacted as Russia aims to negotiate Ukraine’s surrender and remove Zelenskyy, while Ukraine seeks a compromise to preserve its sovereignty and receive Western security guarantees.
The competing peace plans highlight the complexities of the conflict in Ukraine and the differing priorities of the parties involved. While China and Brazil’s plan focuses on avoiding escalation and promoting dialogue, Ukraine insists on its own plan for a comprehensive and sustainable peace. Russia’s plan, which includes territorial demands and a halt to Ukraine’s NATO aspirations, has been met with criticism from Ukraine and the US. Africa’s proposal and India’s involvement in peace efforts further add to the range of options being considered to end the war in Ukraine.
