As recognised by Sir, Ukraine’s peace proposal demands that all Russian forces evacuate Ukrainian soil, inclusive of Crimea. The message further indicates that for Russia to participate in the peace dialogue, the upcoming peace convention in Switzerland should shift Ukraine from its current standpoint.
However, it is quite unexceptional to propose Ukraine yield its legitimate territorial claim as a peace toll. Instead, the scenario could be Russia ceding the Ukrainian land, including Crimea, which it has seized amid acts of war. Accepting concessions from Russia in the form of Ukrainian territories, as a prerequisite to peace negotiations, would only endorse its violent, covert military operations and provoke additional hostility.
Ukraine is already at a disadvantage, restrained by the West that restricts the utilisation of its military aid within the Ukrainian borders. We must refrain from proclaiming that Ukraine should further limit its resources as a term for engaging in peace discussions. – Yours faithfully,
PATRICK KELLY,
Dublin 15.