A Global South case for Ukraine peace

Peace in Ukraine: The Global South’s Role

• The war in Ukraine is nearing a fragile ceasefire, with maritime and energy truces in Riyadh.

• Western leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, propose a European-led peacekeeping force.

• However, Russia has expressed opposition, viewing the force as a NATO Trojan horse, a ploy to expand the alliance’s reach into Ukraine.

• European public opinion is not aligned with the ambitions of its leaders, with widespread resistance to deploying troops.

• The logistical realities of sustaining such a mission without heavy reliance on U.S. support would expose Europe’s limitations.

• The Global South has the credentials to lead a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, as nations from Africa, Asia, and Latin America have maintained principled neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

• A peacekeeping mission led by the Global South would de-escalate tensions and inject a sense of fairness into the proceedings.

Global South’s Credentials for Peacekeeping Missions

• The African Union (AU), BRICS member countries, and Chile have demonstrated their ability to navigate volatile environments in UN peacekeeping missions.

• A robust ceasefire agreement, clear front line demarcation, financial and logistical support from western nations, and the exclusion of NATO troops are necessary for a successful peacekeeping mission.

• India, with its storied legacy in UN peacekeeping, is well-positioned to lead the effort.

• India has contributed over 2,90,000 peacekeepers to more than 50 UN missions, with over 5,000 deployed in nine of the 11 active peace operations.

• India’s neutral stance in the Ukraine conflict and balanced relationships with Russia, the West, and Ukraine make it a natural choice to lead this effort.

• China has been more proactive, positioning itself as a potential peacemaker despite its close ties to Moscow.

• A peacekeeping mission in Ukraine under the UN banner offers the Global South an opportunity to assert its rightful place at the high table of international diplomacy.

• The Global South’s leadership in securing peace in Ukraine must be inclusive, credible, and enduring.

• Active participation in such an effort would cement India’s standing as a global power and affirm its growing influence in shaping international diplomacy.