Before looking at the Geneva Accords, let's look at some background. What is the essence of the problems that have arisen in Ukraine?
Backstory
In recent years, Ukraine, like other countries of the western CIS space, has been negotiating possible integration into Europe. The first step towards it is the signing of an economic agreement with the European Union. It was expected that President Viktor Yanukovych would sign it in November in Vilnius. But this did not happen. In response, supporters of European integration began to gather in the central square of Kyiv in order to influence the government and force them to sign the agreement. Therefore, the protests on the square received the name "Euromaidan" in the media.
Coup d'état
Since January 2014, the protesters, with whom the government could not cope, began to actively demand the resignation of the president. The turmoil intensifiedthere were skirmishes with police and special forces protecting public buildings. On February 22, the president "disappeared", later it will become clear that he fled to Russia. The Rada has appointed an acting president until new elections. It should be said that all these events were accompanied by Russophobic sentiments, because Russia did not approve of Ukraine's European integration. At the same time, the question of languages was raised, in the sense of banning Russian in the regions. It was possible to celebrate the victory and triumph. But suddenly the southern and eastern regions, which had been silent until now, raised their voices. As a result, Crimea separated from Ukraine and immediately became part of Russia, and a movement for federalization arose in the east.
An attempt by the international community to resolve the Ukrainian crisis
The Geneva agreements on Ukraine were a response to the growing centrifugal movement in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which were joined by other eastern and southern regions. In the west, the national Ukrainian forces that came to power even earlier continued to rage, and in the east, a militia began to form against those who wanted to impose on the population the will of the "Maidan", which illegally carried out a coup d'etat. In general, such events are characterized by one concept - "civil war". Under these conditions, the world community could not stand aside. The Geneva Accords, as they were signed, could really resolve the conflict, but the problem was that each sideunderstood the essence of the agreements in her own way.
Measures to reduce tension in the country
Let's turn to the original source, which outlines the Geneva agreements on Ukraine. The text, signed by the four parties to the negotiations (Russia, the United States of America, the European Union and Ukraine), can be easily found in many media sources.
- Firstly, the principle of refraining from violence by all parties to the conflict was proclaimed. Isn't it a bit late after everything that happened?
- Secondly, the inadmissibility of manifestation of any kind of extremism: racial, national or religious was noted. Especially prescribed anti-Semitism. Of course, without mentioning the constantly offended!
- Disarmament of all illegal armed groups and liberation of occupied buildings. I would especially like to note that the Geneva agreements of 2014 speak of all armed formations, regardless of political orientation and terms of armament, both in the west and in the east.
- Almost all those who laid down their arms are promised an amnesty. The only exceptions are those whose guilt deserves the death pen alty. Another interesting wording. Who, when and according to what laws will decide this issue of the death pen alty?
- Observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and representatives of the United States and the Russian Federation will be sent to Ukraine to assist the authorities and as mediators in negotiations.
Hope
Ukrainian authorities immediately after the signing of the agreements announced the start of their implementation. But official Kyiv for some reason interpreted the text of the agreements in its own way. The official statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the improvement of the situation only in the east of the country and ignored the presence of illegal armed groups in the west. Accordingly, all of the above measures applied to Donbass and Lugansk. Having first promised a nationwide discussion of the issues of revising the foundations of the constitutional order, concerning the decentralization of power, the Cabinet of Ministers soon abandoned this idea. Also, to show the government's desire for a peaceful solution to the problems that have arisen, draft laws on amnesty have been prepared. Time has shown how real the hopes trumpeted by the press were.
Failure of agreements
Just a week later, it became clear that the Geneva agreements of April 17 were untenable. What is the reason for this? Many European media were quick to say that the problem is "militants and terrorists" in the eastern regions who do not want to lay down their arms, and also that Russia supports the armed conflict. What exactly? In that it does not clearly express its position regarding the desire of the eastern regions to have self-government. That is, the Geneva agreements signed by Russian representatives are not a clearly expressed position. Regarding the "extremists" in the east, the following can be said. Indeed, the leaders of Lugansk and Donetsk, who negotiated withobservers of the OSCE mission, refused to lay down their arms. TV channels, radio and press shouted about it. But no one asked the question: why? Maybe because buses with armed supporters of the new government were driving around the territory of Ukraine, helping it to restore the "constitutional" order, which they themselves were the first to violate? And no one raised the issue of their demilitarization. Maybe because the actions of the Maidan convincingly proved that no laws and agreements can decree it at all?
Russia's position
Western politicians blame Russia for the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine. She, they say, does not want peace for a neighboring state. Representatives of Russia, analysts, political scientists point out that a peaceful solution to the conflict is impossible without two mandatory conditions: firstly, the federalization of Ukraine, and secondly, the adoption of a law on languages, which will give the position of the state Russian language. These measures will be able to protect the Russian-speaking population, which does not want to obey the illegal Kyiv government and become a hostage to its extravagant decisions.
Referendum
The political actions of any entity can be legal or illegal. The population of the east decided to hold a referendum on the status of their territories in order to legitimize further steps towards the organization of regions. But Kyiv, long before the plebiscite, declared it illegal, the facts - rigged and not related to the free will of the people. In the context of growing confrontation, the leadership of Donetsk andLuhansk regions nevertheless decided to hold a vote. Polling stations opened on May 11. Voter turnout was higher than in previous years' elections. The overwhelming majority voted for the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics and asked to join Russia. It should be noted that the plebiscite took place in the most difficult conditions of a military conflict, and one can argue about its results. Why, then, in peacetime, they were not allowed to hold it, but tried in every possible way to disrupt it? Since then, Ukraine has completely forgotten the Geneva agreements and found a lot of excuses for itself to continue the "anti-terrorist operation." And why so many terrorists in Ukraine?
Status as of July 2014
Two weeks later, presidential elections in Ukraine were held throughout its territory. They could become a new beginning of state peace and harmony. Petro Poroshenko won them. But the bloodshed has not only not stopped - it has taken on new, large-scale momentum. Mass exodus of civilians to Russia, tens of thousands of victims on both sides. In June, from the twentieth, a formal truce in the east of the country lasted ten days. But in early July, the war continued in full. Both sides talk about their readiness to negotiate, but they continue to shoot and kill each other. What is the Geneva Agreement at the moment? This is history, a fragile attempt to avoid casu alties that has never been taken seriously enough by politicians. There was too much left unsaid from the starttoo many contradictions. The international community saved face and made an attempt. Well, the war continues and no one can say when and how it will end.
