Indonesia proposes peace plan for war in Ukraine

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Jun 2023 13:47

Jakarta has once again sought to propose a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, however, the West rushed to nip it in the bud.

Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto gestures while attending the Gerindra Party leader's national meeting, in Bogor, Indonesia August 12, 2022 (Reuters)

At a defense forum in Singapore, Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto presented a proposal to resolve the war in Ukraine, a move that garnered immediate condemnation from delegates.

"I call on Russia and Ukraine to embark on an immediate cessation of hostilities," Subianto said, stressing that the more than 15-month conflict had a tremendous effect on Asian nations' economies and food supplies.

He recommended a ceasefire "at present positions" and demilitarized zones guaranteed by observers and United Nations peacekeeping forces in a speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue defense meeting.

He also put forward an eventual "referendum in the disputed areas" organized by the UN.

"Indonesia is prepared to contribute units to a potential UN peacekeeping operation," he added.

However, Defense Chief Subianto's proposal was slammed at the summit on Saturday, with EU foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell stating that peace in Ukraine had to be achieved on "just" terms.

Commenting on the Indonesian proposal, Borrell said, "We need to bring peace to Ukraine," but it must be a "just peace, not a peace of surrender."

Subianto responded, raising his voice, "Ask Indonesians how many times they have been invaded... There are violations of sovereignty not only in Europe."

"I'm putting forward a conflict resolution plan," he added. "I'm not saying who is right or who is wrong."

The big picture

Back in February, China released a 12-point document entitled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis," which underscores respect for the sovereignty of all countries, the cessation of hostilities, and the resumption of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.

In contrast, nearly $40 billion worth of lethal weaponry has been given to Ukraine by the Pentagon since the start of the war in Ukraine, rising speculations that the US policy is prolonging the war in Ukraine and halting any peace process.

Jakarta had already sought to broker peace through non-aligned diplomacy.

In 2022, Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Kiev and Moscow and met with the nations' leaders while his country chaired the G20 bloc of major economies.

Jakarta has tried to maintain a neutral position regarding Russia and Ukraine, calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict that has been unfolding for months now.