On The Geneva Format For Resolving The Conflict In Ukraine

Abstract

When considering the negotiation processes within the framework of the conflict in Donbass and the documents adopted, most researchers focus on the Minsk agreements and the Normandy format, as well as the processes associated with them. At the same time, it seems relevant to consider the Geneva format, which included representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and the European Union, as the first attempt to resolve the crisis in Ukraine with the help of multilateral format of conflict resolution. This format allowed for the signing of the first comprehensive agreement to resolve the conflict — the Geneva statement, which became the forerunner of the Minsk agreements and other agreements to resolve the conflict. The document included provisions designed to reduce tensions, but due to different interpretations of the clauses of the agreement by the actors involved, it was not implemented in a comprehensive way. The aim of the study was to take a comprehensive look at the Geneva Format and the Geneva Statement to understand their place and role in the conflict resolution process. The study analyzed the background of the Geneva meeting, the positions of the parties involved in the discussions, the document adopted during the negotiations and the consequences of the agreements in the context of the developing conflict in Ukraine.