Ukraine hopes for political solution as Russian invasion enters its third year

Several Western media outlets have been discussing the likelihood of a third World War happening within the next few years, but Denys Mykhailiuk, charge d’affaires at the Ukraine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, warns that there is a bigger possibility of smaller, high-intensity conflicts erupting around the world.

Speaking ahead of the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of his homeland, Mykhailiuk said there is a territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, and unrest in the Middle East and the Red Sea.

The United States also recently carried out five airstrikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

“Russia invaded my country on Feb 24, 2022, and we are still at war. At the same time, other battles are going on around the world,” said Mykhailiuk, at the commemoration of the second year since the beginning of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine in Kuala Lumpur, this morning.

“There will be many such wars because it will be difficult to contain them in one area or country. There will probably not be one great ‘World War’, but these smaller wars would be just as deadly.

“Wars ignore established rules. Once rules are broken, you can do whatever you want, wherever you want.”

On his country’s fight against Russia, Mykhailiuk said Ukraine is hoping for a political solution within the next 12 months, as neither country could claim a military victory.

As such, the upcoming ‘Ukraine Peace Summit’ in Switzerland would be a step in the right direction.

“Our goal is to re-establish our territorial integrity and sovereignty over the whole, internationally recognised borders, but it will not necessarily stop the war,” said Mykhailiuk.

“It would mean that the battle lines are on our borders, which might be better than now, as 18 per cent of the country is temporarily occupied.”

Earlier this year, Switzerland told Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelensky, that it would host the peace summit, most likely next month.

Mykhailiuk said he hoped Malaysia would join the summit as it is an “influential player in Southeast Asia.”

“We have many points of common interest. First of all, the summit is an iteration of the United Nations Charter and international law, which protects smaller countries against violence and the use of force by bigger nations,” said Mykhailiuk.

“Second is the preparation for the establishment of maritime security, especially for Malaysia, as it has busy sea trade routes along its coastline.

“For us, it is important to restore the oath of free navigation in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which is now under Russian control.

“We expect this framework will be settled in the first summit of peace.”

In the meantime, Ukraine has signed agreements on security cooperation with Britain, Germany, and France, and expects another 20 countries to do so.

He said this could be a deterrent for Russia against continuing the war, as Ukraine would not be standing alone.

On the possibility of a regime change in Russia, Mykhailiuk doubts it would happen soon, even though there is backlash against Russian President Vladimir Putin after the suspicious death of his political rival Alexei Navalny in an Arctic Circle prison last weekend.

Authorities claimed Navalny suffered from “sudden death syndrome”.

“People are put in prison for using the word ‘war’, when referring to Russia’s invasion of my country. It might be difficult for a change now,” said Mykhailiuk.

“But Putin is not immortal, and when he is no longer with us, his people will face punishment for their misdeeds.”

Among those who attended the event were David O’Sullivan, European Union Sanctions Envoy, Michalis Rokas, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation to Malaysia, Ambassador-designate Edgard D. Kagan from the United States Embassy Kuala Lumpur, Poland’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Krzysztof Dobrowolski, and ambassadors and representatives from several European Union, African, and Asian countries, as well as those from Australia and Canada.

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