The latest mention of a ceasefire plan allegedly led by Donald Trump, raises eyebrows as it seems to be the top agenda item in Trump’s discussions with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. This has triggered outrage within Ukraine as, many citizens within Ukraine are overly concerned the ramifications that the plan brings. ¹
Unsurprisingly, the most notable concern stems from a notion that such plans will end up sanctioning a legitimization of Russia’s embrace over certain territories of Ukraine. It worries Ukrainians to no end that it may very well be the case that concern over political expedience is prioritized rather than territorial integrity.
Compounding the issue is the possibility that they could plan a ceasefire as a strategy for concealing the existence of Russian military activities already underway in Ukraine. As Russia has repeatedly proven, there is always a context where they can ignore almost any international treaty or norm with little or no attempts made to disguise their disregard.
Considering the velocity with which issues emerge, the international community should pay more attention to details regarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. With the introduction of any ceasefire terms, there is a necessity to maintain the higher scrutiny level without losing the national interests of Ukraine.
Finally, the Ukrainian people’s wariness toward Trump’s supposed ceasefire plan highlights the multifaceted nature of international relations and its intricacies. Even as things progress, it is critical for different stakeholders to remain sensitive, and nuanced, and pay attention to the contextual details in regards to the conflict.