12-pt Protocol Agreements – 11 pts Too Many

The so-called trilateral contact group composed of representatives of Ukraine, Russia and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe met last week in Minsk and hammered out a 12-point protocol agreement that was to lead to a genuine ceasefire in the war that Russia launched against Ukraine in its eastern regions.

As for the truce, Russia violated it and Ukrainian soldiers and civilians were killed.

As for the 12 points, there were 11 too many.

The most important one was No. 10 and it stated: Remove illegal military formations, military equipment and militants and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine.

That should have been the first and only condition for the truce. Russia was to halt the invasion, stop the shooting and withdraw its regular and mercenary armies to a safe distance inside Russia.

Period.

The remaining 11 points are not conditions pertaining to the contact group since they are regular considerations that any legitimate, democratic government demonstrates to all of its inhabitants. Those points pertain to the Ukrainian government’s relationship with its citizens from the Carpathian Mountains to Luhansk and south to the Black Sea. They are of no business to Russia and the OSCE.

1. Provide for immediate and two-sided ceasefire – this would be guaranteed because Russian troops would have been removed from Ukraine.

2. Provide monitoring and verification from the side of OSCE of the ceasefire – yes, but patrol on Russia’s side of the border and make sure its soldiers don’t get lost anymore.

3. Conduct decentralization of power, including through approval of the Law of Ukraine “On temporary order of local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” (Law on special status) – all of Ukraine is undergoing soviet-styled decentralization and there’s no reason to speed it up only there.

4. Provide permanent monitoring at the Ukrainian-Russian state border, and verification by OSCE, with creation of a safety zone in the areas adjacent to the border in Ukraine and Russian Federation – a 10 km buffer zone on Russia’s side of the border would be appropriate.

5. Immediately free all hostages and illegally held persons – and bring to justice those responsible for kidnappings.

6. Approve a law to prevent persecution and punishment of persons in relation to events that took place in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine – no, those suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity must be brought to justice.

7. Continue an inclusive national dialogue – yes.

8. Take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Donbas – Kyiv takes care of its citizens everywhere and those in war ravaged eastern Ukraine will benefit first.

9. Conduct early local elections in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On temporary order of local self-government in certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” (Law on special status) – not without including a program for all of Ukrainian regions.

10. Approve a program for economic development of Donbas and renew the vital functions of the region – yes.

11. Give guarantees of personal security for participants of consultations – as for the Russians, remember which side of the border is your side and stay there.