Arabs push for Russia-Ukraine peace

An Arab delegation comprising foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Sudan and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit was in Moscow on Monday to discuss with Russian Froeign Minister Sergey Lavrov the Russian-Ukraine crisis. And the delegation then travelled to Poland’s capital Warsaw to meet Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba. At the press conference of the Russian and Egyptian foreign ministers, Ahmed Aboul Gheit said that Arab countries imported wheat, grains and cereals from Russia and the Russian-Ukraine war has affected the supplies, and that it has also led to steep rise in oil and fuel prices. He said, “Prices are rising in many parts in the Arab region, in a way that affects the welfare of the Arab citizen, and the matter leads to more negative effects.” But he was quick to add: “We do not look at the matter only from the perspective of the Arabs…There is a sense of the need to defend peace and stability in the world and restore international conditions to their normal form.” Aboul Gheit also stressed “respect for principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”

The Arab League official was trying to tell the western world that it is possible, and it is necessary to talk to the Russian and Ukrainian leaders directly about the conflict and make attempts to resolve them through dialogue and diplomacy. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry speaking in Moscow, “expressed concern about the extension of the current crisis and called on all parties involved in the conflict to stop escalation and not resort to military action…We also stressed the immediate resort to peaceful solutions and diplomacy-based dialogue.” And he said the Arab delegation offered “its readiness to offer mediation efforts and support direct negotiation between the two sides.”

Critics are sure to point out that when Russia and Ukraine are engaged in a fierce battle it is futile to talk of diplomacy, dialogue, and peaceful solutions. But it is this apparently futile effort to bring the two warring sides to the negotiating table that is the most helpful thing to do. There have not been too many efforts from the European side to press for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. European Union (EU) countries and Nato members have been threatening Russia of consequence if Ukraine is attacked. And that is not the most helpful way to get Russia and Ukraine to talk to each other.

Turkey has hosted direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine last month and it seemed that there was a possibility of a breakthrough. Though it did not happen, the door for talks has been kept open. The offer of the Arab delegation to mediate is a good effort. Russia has a close affinity towards Arab countries like Egypt, Algeria and Iraq, and leaders in Moscow will be willing to listen to Arab leaders than they would to European representatives.

Even if there is no immediate breakthrough, the Arab effort remains laudable. It is a combination of pragmatism and idealism. On the one hand the Arab countries are affected by the consequences of the war, and on the other the Arab countries have as much stake in world peace as any other country or region. The Arab leaders are in a way taking advantage of the diplomatic leverage they enjoy with Moscow to push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. And they are in an enviable position of being able to talk to both sides without prejudice. It has been emphasised even by French President Emmanuel Macron that it is necessary to keep talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Arab delegation has done what should have been done ever since the war erupted on February 24.