The report “12 Steps to Strengthen Security in Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic Region” was deleted from the site of the Munich Security Conference. It was prepared by experts from the Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group (EASLG, Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group), the Russian Council on Foreign Affairs (INF) and the American non-profit organization Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). The document was also signed by the chairman of the Munich Conference, German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger.

In a commentary to the Ukrinform, the press secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Yekaterina Zelenko, said that the report was a private initiative of “caring” politicians and experts. According to her, the document was deleted, as it is not official. She also emphasized that the content of “12 steps” contradicts the position of official Kiev.

The Munich Security Conference opened on February 14th and will complete its work on the 16th. It is considered one of the largest international dialogue platforms. This year in Munich gathered more than 800 participants. The Russian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Also at the conference, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky arrived.

Peace through dialogue

The report of European and Russian experts spoke about the need for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in the Donbass and the creation of "conditions for a constructive dialogue between Russia and Ukraine on a wide range of issues." According to the authors of the report, the measures they propose should ease the tension in relations between Moscow and the West and, in general, lead to the strengthening of Euro-Atlantic security.

The document emphasized that last year certain steps in this direction have already been taken. It was about the exchange of retained persons between Kiev and the self-proclaimed republics, about the December summit of the leaders of the "Norman Four", progress in matters related to the holding of elections in Donetsk and Lugansk and granting them special status.

“Over the past six years, the war claimed more than 13 thousand lives and forced 2.5 million people to leave their homes. More than 25 thousand people were injured. You should not miss the opportunity. For the urgent solution of problems in the field of security, humanitarian issues, economics and politics, 12 concrete practical steps must be taken, ”the report emphasized.

In particular, experts suggested restoring the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire regime, which included 75 Russian and more than 280 Ukrainian officers. At the end of December 2017, the center ceased to exist. As the head of the Russian representative office in the JCCC, Lt. Gen. Sergey Kostarev, explained, the work of the Russian mission became impossible due to restrictions that were "unilaterally introduced by the Ukrainian side."

EASLG, INF, and NTI experts also called for building a “Norman Four” dialogue at the military level, improving unhindered access and freedom of movement in the conflict zone in Donbass, finding missing people, clearing the region and eliminating the radiological threat (according to the authors of the document, in Donetsk the region and around it is about 1.2 thousand sources of radioactive radiation). The document proposed accelerating the economic recovery of Donbass and exploring the possibility of creating free trade zones there.

The drafters of the report noted the need to launch a comprehensive intra-Ukrainian dialogue that would address issues of history, national memory, language, identity, and the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in the country. At the same time, representatives of the Russian Federation, Poland and Hungary were invited to participate in the discussion of problems.

European, Russian and American experts drew attention to the importance of developing a “sanctions roadmap”. In their opinion, each specific action to implement the Minsk agreements should be followed by appropriate changes in the sanctions regime.

  • A resident of Lugansk passes by a building damaged by shelling
  • RIA News
  • © Evgeny Biyatov

The speakers called on the leaders of the Euro-Atlantic region to start discussing the construction of a "mutual security system", which in the long run will allow to overcome the "key differences". In addition, they advocated "selective cooperation" between Moscow and the EU, which implies support for the implementation of the Minsk agreements, development of scientific, economic and humanitarian contacts.

The “12 Steps” report was signed by a number of retired Ukrainian and American government officials. Among them - the head of the apparatus of the US National Security Council in the administration of Barack Obama, Brooke Anderson, former deputy foreign minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Chaly, ex-director of the European Integration Department of the Secretariat of the Government of Ukraine Vasily Filipchuk.

Kremlin-friendly terms

In addition to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the report was criticized by the American analytical organization Atlantic Council *, which exists under NATO.

A corresponding statement was published on the organization’s website, which was signed by former US ambassador to Moscow Alexander Vershbow, former US ambassadors to Ukraine Stephen Pifer, William Taylor and Marie Jovanovic, son of US national security adviser Zbignev Brzezinski Jan Brzezinski and others.

Recognizing the legitimacy of part of the recommendations in the 12 Steps report, American analysts said the document repeated Moscow’s proposals on the need for negotiations and inclusive dialogue in Ukraine.

The “Atlantic Council” believes that their colleagues from EASLG, INF and NTI incorrectly stated the reasons for the armed confrontation in Ukraine. In their opinion, the “conflict in and around Ukraine” was allegedly due to the “occupation” of Crimea and the “hybrid war” of the Russian Federation in the Donbass.

In an interview with RT, head of the Department of Political Science and Sociology of the Russian University of Economics. G.V. Plekhanova Andrei Koshkin noted that the position of the “Atlantic Council” reflects the views of the most radical part of the American establishment. According to him, the organization’s statement contradicts the principles of peaceful settlement, which were stated by the employees of EASLG, INF and NTI.

“The 12 Steps Report is an attempt by Russian and Western experts to look at the crisis on the issue of Euro-Atlantic security without excess. The document does not look for those responsible, does not hang up labels, and generally reflects a request for an adequate understanding of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The report focuses on how to overcome differences. I think that this is precisely what caused the sharply negative reaction of the “Atlantic Council” and official Kiev, ”said Koshkin.

In turn, a RT source in the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry explains Kiev’s discontent with the fact that the report of experts EASLG, INF and NTI “completely repeats all Moscow’s demands for a settlement of hostilities in the Donbass.”

“Kiev does not agree with this. At a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky bluntly said that compliance with all the requirements of the Minsk agreements would lead to protests in Ukrainian cities, where armed people would take part. And for the regime to collapse, it is enough to take to the streets about 5% of the country's population - two "Maidan" in Ukraine have clearly demonstrated this. Therefore, the world does not suit Ukraine at any cost, ”the representative of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry explained.

  • Nationalists rally in Kiev against the "Steinmeier formula"
  • Reuters
  • © Valentyn Ogirenko

The interlocutor of RT in the party of Petro Poroshenko “European Solidarity” called “12 steps” “an additional lever of pressure” on official Kiev. According to him, the report is contrary to the national interests of Ukraine.

“Ukraine in this report offers unfavorable conditions. It is clear that these “12 steps” are unofficial, but why do we need an additional lever of pressure? As far as I know, in Kiev, they are increasingly discussing with European diplomats the opportunity to rewrite the Minsk agreements, ”the source explained.

“Although the office of Vladimir Zelensky demonstrates a more peaceful policy than the Poroshenko administration, the current Ukrainian leader is not ready to make concessions. Obviously, the president is afraid of protests. Nationalists continue to rule the ball in Ukraine, ”- said the interlocutor of RT in the party" Fatherland ".

Pressure result

Experts interviewed by RT suggest that Ukrainian and American authorities could put pressure on the leadership of the Munich Conference to delete the 12 Steps report.

According to Pavel Feldman, deputy director of the Institute for Strategic Studies and Forecasts at RUDN University, Kiev most likely demanded that the document be removed from the site of the Munich Conference. His “initiative” found support from the United States, which through diplomatic channels put pressure on European colleagues and the organizers of the conference.

  • The destroyed house in the Kiev region of Donetsk
  • RIA News
  • © Valery Melnikov

“It seems that in recent years the Munich Conference has become an arena of confrontation. The main agenda seems to be dictated by the most radical politicians and experts from the United States. The “12 steps” report with its conciliatory rhetoric did not fit into the anti-Russian canvas, for which it was deleted, ”stated Feldman.

Andrei Koshkin also believes that the expert paper EASLG, INF and NTI did not like Kiev and Washington. In this regard, Ukraine and the United States forced the organizers of the Munich Conference to remove him.

“For Kiev and Washington, the report of a group of international experts became a bone in the throat, as it indicated the need to turn Western politics towards cooperation with Russia. He also removes the mask of the victim of the mythical “Russian aggression” from Ukraine, pointing to the lack of alternatives to Minsk-2 and dialogue with uncontrolled territories, ”said Koshkin.

* “Atlantic Council of the United States” - an organization whose activity is deemed undesirable in the territory of the Russian Federation by decision of the Attorney General's Office of July 25, 2019.