Perpetual Peace Plan for the Russia-Ukraine War

FEATURED RESEARCH PAPER, 4 Nov 2024

Dr. Bishnu Pathak, et al. – TRANSCEND Media Service

Abstract

31 Oct 2024 – In approximately three years, the Russia-Ukraine war has escalated to become the most destructive and contentious conflict since World War II. Initially perceived as a war between Russia and Ukraine, the active involvement of the USA in providing financial aid, strategic defense guidance, and military supplies has transformed the narrative to a war between Russia and the USA. Meanwhile, Europe is grappling with the challenge of accommodating over 6 million Ukrainian refugees, facing insecurity, an economic recession, and a rise in xenophobic and narrow-minded attitudes towards foreign residents. In contrast, the USA has bolstered its economy through the sale of weapons and war supplies. If this war is prolonged, not only Europe, but the entire world will be affected. Therefore, the conscious citizens of the world are pressuring both conflicting alliances to initiate informal and formal, indirect and direct dialogue or a roundtable conference. As a result, 21 prominent peacemakers from ten countries have recently proposed a 12-point perpetual peace plan to end the war forever. The specific objective of this paper is to envision transforming the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war into a state of perpetual peace. The study primarily relies on the snow-ball technique analyzing primary, secondary, and tertiary sources and archival literature reviews to draw lessons from the past (yesterday), understand the axiomatic truth of the present (today), and foster hope by sharing the epistemology of Russia-Ukraine war and peace philosophy for the future (tomorrow). The art-of-the-innovative paper is based on coauthors’ personal experiences, enthusiasm, and participant observation accumulated over decades, rather than solely relying on theoretical conceptions. Perpetual peace is a universal concept that transcends all boundaries by peaceful means. It is greater than any nation, caste, creed, religion, color, opinion, class, gender, profession, culture, geography, or social order and structure. The pursuit of perpetual peace is achieved through roundtable dialogues or conferences.

Introduction

The Russia-Ukraine war has been ongoing for nearly three years now, starting on February 24, 2022, with no end in sight. It is the largest European conflict since World War II. The conflict has resulted in numerous casualties and has had a devastating impact on both countries. It is a complex and multifaceted war with political, territorial, economic, legal, and social implications. Hundreds of thousands of people have died (Sauer, October 22, 2024 & Gadzo, October 16, 2024), and there is a huge refugee crisis with over 6.7 million Ukrainians spread throughout Europe (Operational Data Portal, October 15, 2024). This is the first time such a large number of refugees has occurred since World War II as a result of the war.

The military operation to demilitarize Ukraine led to international condemnation and sanctions. Russia later abandoned an attempt to take Kyiv, and Ukrainian forces reclaimed territories. Since then, Russian offensives and counteroffensives have resulted in limited territorial gains and indiscriminate attacks on Ukrainian and Ukrainian-backed forces (Goodman, April 10, 2022 & UNHR, March 25, 2022).

With the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, if Ukraine can survive even for 24 hours against Russia, Ukraine will be praised all over the world. However, the war is still ongoing. In the early days, Russia and Ukraine were close rivals. The war took a U-turn when Ukraine sought international help to fight against Russia. When the USA delivered the first trainload of military aid to Ukraine on February 27, three days after the war started, this war became known as the Russia-USA war. The war has left Europe in dire straits due to rising refugees, insecurity, high prices, and fuel shortages. In contrast, the US has managed to bolster its economy by selling the most war supplies since World War II. Furthermore, this war is contributing to political upheaval and, in many cases, recession in Europe (European Investment Bank, 2022).

It has been discovered that Ukraine was preparing for war against Russia before February 24, 2022. A team of Czech-British instructors trained 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers at the Vyšpoint Military Academy, with a focus on non-commissioned officers (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War). Since January 2022, Western governments have pledged over $380 billion in aid to Ukraine, including nearly $118 billion in direct military aid from individual countries as of March 2024 (Robinson, Wilson, Pettersson, & Roberts, March 20, 2024. As of January 2024, the EU and its Member States have supported Ukraine with almost €88 billion, including financial, economic, diplomatic, humanitarian, and military aid (Europa-Parliament, February 23, 2024).

Since February 24, 2022, Ukraine has been receiving training and equipment from the United States and its allies and partners. The U.S. Department of Defense stated that under the Biden Administration, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $30.4 billion in security assistance. In total, the U.S. has invested over $32.4 billion since 2014 and over $29.8 billion since the start of Russia’s ruthless and unprovoked invasion on February 24, 2022 (www.defense.gov/Spotlights/Support-for-Ukraine/Timeline/).

Ukrainian military recruitment officers conducted raids on bars, restaurants, and concert halls in Kyiv, detaining individuals who had not committed to military aid. This highlighted the country’s urgent need for recruits aged 25–60 who are eligible for conscription. Those aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country (Russia-Ukraine War, October 13, 2024).

The international community has been largely divided, both formally and informally on the course of the Russia-Ukraine war. Additionally, those within the international community who have maintained a neutral stance on the conflict have been closely monitoring the situation. However, finding a peaceful solution has proven to be challenging (The London School of Economics and Political Science, 2024). Both sides have engaged in military actions, leading to human rights violations, a humanitarian crisis, a breakdown of diplomatic relations, with many civilians experiencing enforced disappearances and displacement, in desperate need of assistance (Press.un.org, September 10, 2024).

The goal of the plan is to achieve a perpetual, sustainable, and justifiable peace agreement, known as the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), benefiting both countries and promoting stability in Europe and the world. The ongoing war has caused immense suffering and instability, making it imperative to develop, sign, and implement a comprehensive peace plan. The hope is that a peaceful resolution can be achieved soon to end the casualties and suffering of the people in both countries. On October 6, 2024, 21 peacemakers from 10 countries of Gandhian Global Harmony Association (GGHA) presented a 12-point perpetual peace plan aimed at permanently transforming the Russia-Ukraine war.

The general objective of this paper is to enhance understanding of the Russia-Ukraine war, its connections to the global political system, and the importance of the eternal peace process itself. By internalizing the lessons learned from real-world experiences, peacemakers worldwide can share their findings with international communities to promote a perpetual peace plan in both countries.

The specific objectives of this ground-breaking paper are as follows: to clarify the Russia-Ukraine situation; analyze the war’s impact on Europe; facilitate discussions on a perpetual peace plan; and share findings with like-minded individuals and institutions.

This study aims to provide descriptive and explanatory insights through archival research, following the principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependence, and interrelatedness. Information and literature are gathered through networking tracking methods and discussions with relevant institutions and experts (Pathak, February 2021).

Impact of War Situations

The 12 founding countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also known as the intergovernmental military alliance or collective military system established to defend each other against attacks by third parties in April 1949 (Cook, May 25, 2017). NATO was signed in Washington, also known as the Washington Treaty. Four countries, namely Greece, Turkey, West Germany, and Spain, joined NATO between 1952 and 1982 during the Cold War I (Baldwin, September 28, 1952 & Glass, May 14, 2014). An additional 16 nations, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Finland, and Sweden, joined during the Cold War II. The Cold War I was between the USA and the USSR, while the Cold War II has seen a US-led alliance against a China-led alliance (Pathak, 2022).

The Washington Treaty is being deployed in the Indo-Pacific region to encircle China and keep an eye on India. In line with the grand design and long-term strategic plan of the USA, the Washington Treaty aims to geographically secede Tibet and provoke issues of identity among Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang autonomous region. The Washington Treaty is closely monitoring India to ensure it does not oppose the Washington Treaty’s proliferation and its control objectives in the Asia-Pacific region. The participation of South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand in the Washington Treaty’s October 2024 meeting, with their heads of state and other officials joining for the first time, is a key example of the Washington Treaty’s Indo-Pacific expansionism (Oberg, October 21, 2024).

After nearly eight years of simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine (Kofman, et al., 2017 & Rainsford, September 6, 2023), Russia’s reinvasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2024 has divided world politics into three main factions. One small faction supports Russia’s incursion, while a larger section consisting of NATO countries is providing Ukraine with military weapons and supplies, as well as moral, and political support. Major players in international affairs, such as China and India have remained neutral and non-aligned. Western interpretations of the conflict as a struggle between right and might have been largely rejected by Asian countries (Pradhan, October 18, 2024).

Many young people have fled their country before turning eighteen due to fear of getting involved in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has lasted for roughly three years (UNICEF, March 30, 2022). Choosing to leave one’s own country or actually going abroad means leaving behind friends, family, neighborhoods, and place of birth. It also entails adjusting to a new environment while dealing with regrets. These challenges can all be quite difficult (see Box I).

BOX I – Fleeing Ukrainian Youths

“I didn’t want to fight in the war,” said 18-year-old Alexander Maison, who recently left Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. “It’s getting scary.” Within two weeks of turning 18 last summer, he left his home and went to neighboring Slovakia. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the number of young people fleeing the country has been increasing, posing a growing problem. Although the mandatory conscription age is 25, youths over 18 are not allowed to leave the country.

“Alexander said he began considering leaving the country after conversations with his friends. They discussed the possibility of being called up to serve in the army, the necessity of deployment, and the uncertain future in a country at war. Many of his friends shared the same sentiments. While they condemned the Russian invasion, they do not want to be directly involved in the war, and the idea of going to war weighs heavily on them.

“I have only one friend who will join the army,” he said. “The rest don’t want to fight.” In Slovakia, Alexander has enrolled in university and is studying the language there. He has yet to make friends or find a social group in Slovakia, but he has no plans to return to Ukraine until the war comes to an end.”

Adapted from https://www.bbc.com/nepali/articles/c4g5rkdyjnwo

Everyone is scared, whether they admit it or not. Those who choose to stay in Ukraine are confronted with the fear of being conscripted. This fear is pervasive, because it involves life and death. According to the Population Agency of Ukraine, the number of individuals leaving Ukraine this year and not returning is three times higher than in all of 2023.

UNHCR uses the term “refugees” to refer to all individuals who have left Ukraine due to the ongoing war. As of October 15, 2024, slightly over 6.7 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine as a result of Russia’s assault against Ukraine have been granted refugee status, temporary protection, temporary asylum status, and similar national protection schemes in the EU. A total of 6,191,800 Ukrainian refugees are spread across Europe alone. By the end of July 2024, the EU nations housing the largest number of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine were Germany (1,212,835 people), Poland (976,205) and Czechia (369,610) of the EU total (The Sofia Globe Staff, September 10, 2024 & Operational Data Portal, October 15, 2024). However, by the end of December 2023, the highest number of Ukrainian refugees, totaling 1,227,555, were sheltered in the Russian Federation alone (United Nations in Ukraine, April 15, 2024).

With almost a third of Ukrainians forced to evacuate their homes, the war has resulted in the worst crisis of population displacement since World War II. The UN further stated that an additional 571,000 Ukrainians have been exiled outside of Europe, while 3.7 million people remain internally displaced within Ukraine’s borders. The war has claimed the lives of 11,662 civilians between February 24, 2022 and August 15, 2024. Among the victims are 639 children. Additionally, 24,207 civilians have been injured, including 1,577 children (Regional Information Center for Western Europe, September 11, 2024). The United Nations states, “The war has destroyed the Ukrainian economy, reversing years of progress toward development and pushing close to 25 percent of the population into poverty” (United Nations in Ukraine, April 15, 2024).

However, Mary Glantz stated, “By the end of 2023, estimates for Russian personnel killed ranged between 66,000 and 120,000. When you add in the number of wounded that total reaches an astounding 315,000” (March 11, 2024). Furthermore, Russia has suffered massive equipment losses, including the catastrophic depletion of its Black Sea fleet, which saw 20 vessels sunk. Over all, Russia has lost about 8,800 armored vehicles since invading Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Despite these alarming statistics, analysts believe that Russia still has enough resources to continue fighting the war for the next two to three years, if not longer (Glantz, March 11, 2024).

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has increased pressure on critical commodities, such as food and energy. This is a result of reduced output from both countries and sanctions imposed on Russia. Consequently, costs have escalated, leading to inflation rates that far exceed wage growth (Kilfoyle, October 24, 2023 & Rub, April 4, 2024)

Ukraine, once one of the poorest Soviet republics, experienced a significant economic recession of up to 35 percent in GDP in the first year of conflict. This led to a 7.1 million increase in poverty. Ukraine, once a major exporter of crops, now ranks among the world’s most food-insecure countries, with one in three households affected, according to the UN World Food Program (Kilfoyle, October 24, 2023 & Welsh, February 27, 2024).

War impacts food production, imports, and exports in all nations. Food banks play a crucial role in combating food poverty by providing access to essential nutrients. The food crisis exacerbates the situation for asylum seekers refugees in neighboring countries. The right to food is paramount for all individuals to attain dignity.

Food crises typically arise from poverty, natural disasters, and conflict, affecting millions worldwide. It is a critical issue where individuals lack access to an adequate supply of nutritious food. To address food scarcity in Ukraine and Russia, it is essential for governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals to collaborate on accepting and implementing a perpetual peace plan. Increasing food production, utilizing unused agricultural land, improving food distribution systems, and reducing food waste can help alleviate the impacts of food scarcity. This way, everyone can have enough to eat. The right to food is the supreme right for all.

Situation Analysis

In order to effectively assess the current situation, it is crucial to conduct a thorough analysis of all relevant information regarding the war. This includes examining internal and external influences that may impact the existing conflict situation between Russia and Ukraine (USA). Conducting a comprehensive situation analysis is essential in developing effective strategies for a perpetual peace plan.

In Ukraine, there was a significant presence of nationalistic sentiment. The country demonstrated steadfast resolve in its struggle for the freedom to choose its friendships and alliances. Ukraine sought to counter Russia’s aggression through moral, political, strategic, economic, and military support from Western powers. Even in the midst of the conflict, Ukraine is appealing to the EU and NATO to consider its membership.

However, if Western powers were to grant membership to Ukraine, NATO and the EU would be obligated to deploy their soldiers against Russia based on Article 5 of NATO. Article 5 states, “If a NATO Ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the Ally attacked” (NATO, July 4, 2023).

This poses a significant threat of sparking World War III. That is why they are refraining from providing military aid. Given their extensive commercial ties with Russia, they fear potential financial losses. As a result, the decision of the West is to withhold military aid and membership in this scenario. Even though, both Russia and Ukraine are left to navigate numerous challenges following the conclusion of the war.

The defeat of one side is inevitable in this war. Compared to Russia, Ukraine is weaker in terms of population, geography, war supplies, military power, strategic defense, and resources. However, Ukrainian citizens are fighting an emotional war to protect their national sovereignty and integrity with high morale and a strong sense of national existence.

It is more likely that Ukraine will suffer a major loss in this war than Russia. If defeated, the existence of President Volodymyr Zelensky and his family, as well as his role as a comedian, will also be at stake. Even if Russia wins this war, it will still incur significant losses. Despite the war ending, Russia will face sanctions from Western countries and the continuation of Cold War II. This will result in huge economic losses and a recession for Russia.

All over the world, especially in Europe, this war has not only made food and goods more expensive, but fuel, gas, and cooking oil have also become scarce or increased in price. The Russia-Ukraine war has had a strong impact on political parties. The war crisis has created an opportunity for conservative political ideologies to flourish, while diminishing the influence of liberal politics even in Europe. The strong and influential hold of conservative politics in Europe will have a harsh impact on foreigners residing in their countries, including students and workers. Even if Russia emerges victorious in this war, it will ultimately suffer defeat due to huge casualties.

Whoever wins or loses, everyone needs to strive for perpetual peace through both informal and formal, as well as indirect and direct dialogue (Pathak & Bastola, 2022). Perpetual peace is achieved by reaching an agreement that must be effectively enforced. The ultimate aim of armed conflict or war is to achieve perpetual peace through resolution via negotiation.

Perpetual peace is a universal concept that transcends national, caste, class, profession, religious, and political boundaries. It can only be attained through dialogue and reaching a resolution. This means that perpetual peace is greater than any nation, caste, creed, religion, color, opinion, class, gender, profession, culture, geography, or social structure. It would be even more beneficial if justice is included in the pursuit of peace, leading to judicial peace that can only be achieved through roundtable dialogues or conferences.

Disagreement, lawlessness, injustice, ignorance, conflict, and war can only be resolved through dialogue for stable peace. Dialogue is the key to resolving all problems, contradictions, and differences. In the case of the Russia-Ukraine war, the path to stable and perpetual peace lies in conducting roundtable conferences or dialogues, where facilitation and mediation by national and international delegations are inevitable.

Perpetual Peace Plan to Russia-Ukraine

The Gandhian Global Harmony Association (GGHA) and the world peacemakers’ solidarity plan for achieving perpetual peace in the Russia-Ukraine war was submitted at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22-24, 2024. The 12-point plan for perpetual peace resolution was approved by the 21 peacemakers from 10 countries on October 6, 2024. The coauthors include Bishnu Pathak, Chaitanya Dave, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Igor I. Kondrashin, Julia Budnikova, Kurt Johnston, Leo Semashko, Li Ruohong, Mairead Corrigan, Markandey Rai, Matt Meyer, Noam Chomsky, René Wadlow, Rodney Atkinson, Roger Kotila, Rosa Dalmiglio, Rudolf Siebert, Surendra Pathak, Takis Ioannidis, Théa Marie Robert, and Vera Popovich. These 21 peacemakers, representing public diplomacy, hail from Britain, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Nepal, Russia, and the USA. For more information, please visit peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=1219.

The 12-point bilateral and multilateral negotiation suggestions between Russia and Ukraine, within the frameworks of BRICS and G20, have led to a consensus on the following positions for achieving perpetual peace.

1. The shared historical connection of perpetual peace between Russia and Ukraine, unites them as one multinational and multi-confessional family of peoples. They aim for harmony as good-neighbors, as sovereign and democratic states that guarantee all human rights on a federalist basis.
2. Russia and Ukraine both recognize the canonical Orthodoxy established by the Jerusalem Synod of 1672 as a shared spiritual foundation. This is exemplified by the united Orthodox Church and its golden rule of peacemaking, which acts as the highest moral imperative in the relationship between the two nations. Only the enemies of the people of Russia and Ukraine are trying to dismantle this common spiritual platform of canonical Orthodoxy. Their aim is to condemn these people to perpetual mutual destruction and un-ending genocide.
3. On a shared spiritual and moral platform, Russia and Ukraine are collaborating to cultivate a renewed culture of peace and peace science with the help of safe AI. They are working together to establish collaborative and innovative institutions, including:

• • A Department of Peace and Harmony within the Foreign Ministry of each country,
  • An Academy of Peace Science within the Academies of each country,
  • A Center for Safe AI and Digital Economy within the Ministry of Economy of each country.

These innovative institutions (DAC) are being acknowledged as essential tools for effectively achieving perpetual peace for Russia and Ukraine.

4. Russia and Ukraine both recognize the neutral status of Ukraine outside of the NATO “nuclear alliance” and other military alliances that threaten Russia’s security. Similarly, they acknowledge the neutral status of Russia outside of any military alliances that pose a threat to Ukraine.
5. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing innovative tools from the DAC, Russia and Ukraine are guided by the international principle of equal and indivisible security. They are committed to excluding any changes that benefit some countries at the expense of others, ensuring the complete demilitarization of Ukraine. They also envision the eventual demilitarization of Russia, as part of the global demilitarization process conducted by the UN based on the approved “Peace Constitution of the Earth”.
6. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing innovative tools from the DAC, Russia and Ukraine are working together to achieve the complete denazification of Ukraine. This includes implementing a constitutional prohibition of Russophobia, Nazism, and any forms of racism, following the example set by Russia where such ideologies have long been prohibited by the Constitution. These principles are also upheld in the organization of culture, media, and the entire education system starting from kindergarten.
7. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing the DAC instruments, Russia and Ukraine pledge to ensure the complete elimination of any irreconcilable conflicts for future generations. Instead of ongoing war and bloodshed, they aim to establish perpetual peace and harmony.
8. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing the instruments of the DAC, Russia and Ukraine acknowledge the historical, Orthodox and moral justice of Russian jurisdiction over the territories of Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhe regions within their established borders as integral subjects of the Russian Federation.
9. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing the DAC instruments, Russia and Ukraine recognize the perpetual need for an equal international condominium in the joint use of the resources of these territories for corporate, academic, and cultural cooperation on the subjects listed by the Russian Federation.
10. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing the DAC instruments, Russia and Ukraine are jointly developing a long-term “Marshall Plan” as a program for the accelerated restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy (the Ukraine Recovery Program). This program will involve participation from the BRICS countries and will be open to the accession of other countries, including the EU and USA.

The goal of this initiative is to restore and develop a culture of peace in Ukraine, including peace education, peace museums, peace art, interfaith harmony, and social diversity. Under the auspices of UNESCO, there will be broad involvement of relevant international institutions in Ukraine, rather than neo-Nazi entities, for the cultural denazification as a special part of the “Marshal Plan”.

11. On a shared spiritual platform and utilizing the DAC instruments, Russia and Ukraine recognize the need for an eternal, egalitarian and inclusive society for the people of both sovereign democratic states. They see themselves as one family with common institutions of people’s diplomacy, forming a single civil union of their people. This unity serves as a guarantee of perpetual peace and the inviolability of their friendship in the future.
12. After the parties agree on the previous 11-point by the end of 2024 and ratify them in their respective parliaments, Russia and Ukraine will declare the cessation of all military actions on the contact line and arms deliveries to it staring in 2025. This marks the beginning of the implementation of the approved plan for the Perpetual Peace for Russia and Ukraine (PPRU).

This perpetual peace plan has been updated by peacemakers from international peacemaking organizations with whom the GGHA has cooperated for 10 years or more.

The perpetual peace plan is imperative for Russia and Ukraine to work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in order to prevent further loss of life, massive destruction, and to promote stability in Europe and the world. By following the proposed peace plan outlined in the document, both countries can take a significant step towards achieving perpetual peace, reintegration, rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reculturation.

The proposed perpetual peace plan calls for Russia and Ukraine to initiate a ceasefire to halt all military actions and prevent further casualties. A ceasefire agreement is the first step to initiate perpetual peace, halting military operations, war supplies, and working towards a peaceful resolution of the war. Similarly, both countries must agree to withdraw their troops from the conflict zone and establish a demilitarized buffer zone to prevent further hostilities.

Both countries must engage in diplomatic negotiations to reach a peace accord that addresses the root causes of the war and establishes a framework for future cooperation and a mutually accepted resolution. Humanitarian aid, such as food, water, shelter, and medical care for those in need, must be provided. Rehabilitation, rebuilding, and reconciliation must be fostered through dialogue between the parties from Russia and Ukraine, promoting economic development and ensuring the protection of human rights. An international monitoring mechanism, headed by the United Nations should be established to ensure compliance with the peace accord for both countries. Such a monitoring body will build trust between the parties and create a foundation for perpetual peace.

Western notions of the Russia-Ukraine war portray it as a struggle between right and might, but these notions have been widely rejected by Asia. In a historic move, Finland and Sweden, two nations that had previously avoided joining NATO, become members of the Washington Treaty on March 7, 2024 (Insight, March 22, 2024) to prevent upsetting Russia. Europe’s transition away from Russian gas has been the most significant development. Even in such an ambiguous dilemma, China signed a new 30-year, US $ 400 billion gas supply deal with Russia and is now Russia’s second-largest buyer of oil, surpassed only by India on May 21, 2014 (USCC.gov, September 6, 2014). India overtook China as the world’s largest importer of Russian oil in July 2024 (Khalilova, August 22, 2024 & Coles, February 2023). The revelation of Russia’s military vulnerability has been one of the war’s greatest surprises. Zelenskyy’s rejection of President Biden’s airlift offer early in the conflict marked a “rebirth movement” for both him and Ukrainian politics. It was unprecedented for Russia to be expelled from the Statute of the Council of Europe in the Committee of Ministers (Council of Europe, February 22, 2022, Reuters, March 10, 2022, & Council of Europe, March 16, 2022).

Conclusion

In 1795, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant published his book, “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch”. In this work, he discussed democratic peace, commercial peace, and institutional peace. Over the past 300 years, the concept of Perpetual Peace that Kant introduced has continued to gain prominence, even in today’s modern age.

In the modern world, peace and conflict studies as an academic course were started by Johan Galtung in the early sixties. He is recognized as the father of peace and conflict studies worldwide. Galtung distinguished between two types of peace: positive peace and negative peace (Urdal, 1968 & Maley, 1985). Johan Galtung introduced positive and negative peace in the Editorial to the Journal of Peace Research in 1964 (Grewal, August 30, 2003). Before this, Galtung founded the Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO) for policy-relevant peace research in 1959 (www.nonproliferation.eu/thinktanks-2/prio/) when he was just 29 years old. Galtung also pointed out the concept of lasting peace (Galtung, 1996).

Immanuel Kant and Johan Galtung have each presented their own arguments regarding perpetual peace and lasting peace respectively. It is important to understand the distinction between these two concepts. Perpetual peace implies a state of continuous and unending peace, while lasting peace endures over a long period of time, without necessarily being permanent. Perpetual peace is an idealistic and utopian notion of peace, whereas lasting peace acknowledges the possibility of conflict arising at any time in the future.

Given that conflict and peace have their own cycle, Galtung’s concept of lasting peace seems more relevant and timelier for today’s world. Just as there is a cycle of conflict and peace, like an ecosystem, or with peace followed by conflict and vice versa (Pathak, October 21, 2010). However, if we set the goal for long and eternal peace, even if we cannot reach the destination, we can get closer to it. With this in mind, this paper has been prepared to explore the concept of perpetual peace in the context of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Peace is a state of harmony defined by the absence of armed conflict, violence, inharmony, discord, turmoil, and disturbance. In a peaceful environment, individuals, communities, and societies can coexist harmoniously, embracing each other’s differences, contradictions, and disagreements. Achieving peace necessitates dialogue, negotiation, diplomacy, conflict resolution, conflict management, conflict settlement, mutual understanding, and peaceful conflict transformation.

Peace is essential for fostering cooperation, prosperity, stability, progress, and a thriving society. It is not just the absence of conflict or war, but also involves actively cultivating positive relationships. Peace upholds fundamental human rights and promotes unity among all individuals. It resolves various contradictions and conflicting interests to establish a conducive atmosphere for a peaceful world for future generations.

Perpetual peace is a universal essential characteristic inherent in every human being, free from violation, discrimination, and injustice. It is inalienable, meaning no one can take it away. Peace is indivisible, intended to be inseparable and interrelated, advocating for all individuals to have equal rights and status regardless of color, sex, country of origin, birth, language, profession, religion, geography, and caste-ethnicity. It is necessary to protect the human dignity of all through peaceful means.

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Dr. Bishnu Pathak, a former Senior Commissioner at the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) in Nepal, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize from 2013 to 2019 for his discovery of the Peace-Conflict Lifecycle which he compares to an ecosystem. Dr. Pathak is a Board Member of the TRANSCEND Peace University and holds a Ph.D. in interdisciplinary Conflict Transformation and Human Rights, earned over two decades in 2003. Despite the challenges, Professor Pathak has authored over 100 international books and papers, including “Politics of People’s War and Human Rights in Nepal” (2005), “Generations of Transitional Justice in the World” (2019), “The Nepal Compact: Potential for Cold War II” (2022), “Negotiation by Peaceful Means: Nepo-India Territorial Disputes” (2022), and “The Arts of Eastern Philosophy” (2023). Many of his publications have been used as references in universities in over 100 countries worldwide. Dr. Pathak’s work covers a wide range of topics, including Transitional Justice, Human Rights, Human Security, Peace, and Conflict Transformation. 

Mairead Corrigan Maguire, from the United Kingdom, is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment and a peace activist from Northern Ireland. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 alongside Betty Williams for their work as co-founders of Women for Peace. This organization later evolved into the Community for Peace People, dedicated to promoting peaceful resolutions to violence in Northern Ireland.

Dr. Leo Semashko, a Russian Orthodox, philosopher, and sociologist, is the founder of the Gandhian Global Harmony Association (GGHA) established in 2005. He also serves as the Honorary President representing Peace Science, alongside over 700 coauthors, including Indian President Dr. Abdul Kalam and 5 Nobel Peace Laureates, from over 50 countries. Based in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dr. Semashko has been leading this initiative for almost 20 years.

Dr. Surendra Pathak, Vice President of the Gandhian Global Harmony Association, has held various positions such as the Director of Research, Dean of Social Sciences, and Professor at IASE Deemed University in Rajasthan, India. He is currently engaged with several international academic institutions, organizations, and NGOs that focus on peace, harmony, and human values. Some of these include GPF, GCN-UN, WCPA, IAEWP, Deep University, Interfaith Foundation India and others.

Dr. Matt Meyer, a peace philosopher and professor from the USA, currently serves as the Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA). He advocates for the principles of peace science and broad peace studies, originally developed by Johan Galtung. Meyer firmly believes that these concepts can aid humanity in comprehending the inevitable decline of militaristic states, with a specific focus on the United States.  Additionally, he is a Senior Research Scholar at the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Susmita Bastola holds a PhD in Peace and Human Rights from Japan and has dedicated her career to exploring the intersections of conflict resolution, social justice, and reconciliation, with a focus on indigenous communities. She is also a co-author of two influential books that contribute to the discourse on peace and philosophy: “Negotiation by Peaceful Means: Nepo-India Territorial Disputes” (2022) and “The Art of Eastern Philosophy” (2023). Her aim is to promote sustainable peace and advocate for marginalized voices in global dialogues.

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