The Peace Party, were it to have a role in the UK Government, looks ahead to the Ceasefire, the ending of Sanctions and the resolution of the conflicts that led to the War; the Peace Process that must take place.

At Stage 1, Russia and Ukraine agree a Ceasefire

Such an Agreement will be likely to be arranged by a country or organisation that is trusted by both belligerents, such as Turkey.

Parts of the Agreement will be (a) the Ceasefire itself, (b) the monitoring of it, (c) the simultaneous bringing to an end of the sanctions that had been imposed by various third parties and (d) the arranging of a peace process.

Stage 2, A Peace Process, will follow the Ceasefire, the monitoring of it and the ending of Sanctions

I. Who will be likely to be taking part?

The United Nations

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Representatives of the Government of Russia (and governments of the other members of the “Commonwealth of Independent States”)

Representatives of the Government of Ukraine

Representatives of all the Governments of the countries forming the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

Representatives of Governments of countries of the European Union not in NATO (Sweden, Finland)

Non-governmental Groups involved in the break-away areas of Ukraine

Representatives of the media

II. The Issues that may have been behind the Conflict and the subsequent Invasion and War (that will need to considered in the Peace Process) including

The Minsk Accords – a political solution for peace?

The supply of weapons to Russia and Ukraine

Outside involvement in governmental changes in Ukraine as in 2014 (“Regime Change”)

Right-wing influences

Anti-Russian feeling stirred up in Ukraine: the destruction of relations between the two countries

The treatment of minorities in Ukraine, for example, in the Donbass; the ignoring of human rights

Threatened eastward expansion of NATO

Possible eastward expansion of the European Union

The treating of Russia as an enemy: Russia’s feeling of insecurity

Attacks on Russian reputation by the United Kingdom and others even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Media “misinformation” and irresponsible talk about the Conflict over the years

Development of nuclear weapons and weapons using chemical and biological agents and associated threats of the escalation of the war into “World War III”

[The Peace Party is aware of prescient lecture by US Professor Mearsheimer, drawn to our attention by David Brown, on why Ukraine is the West’s fault, given in 2015 – Why is Ukraine the West’s Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer – YouTube]

III. Non-violent Conflict Resolution

Those selected to conduct conflict resolution should (as suggested in Thich Naht Hanh’s “Creating True Peace”)

Have excellent communication skills

Have/clearly demonstrate reverence for Life

Be prepared to cultivate loving kindness

Cultivate responsibility

Use the skills associated with “deep listening”

Use ‘loving speech’ in their everyday lives

Be humble – have humility

Have respect and self-respect

Demonstrate the importance of truth

Arrange for a “Truth Commission” to be established (as took place in South Africa)