A Cumbrian peer believes a treaty put forward by Russia in 2021 could have been a missed opportunity to avert war in Ukraine.
Lord Campbell-Savours spoke in the House of Lords last week, asking a Government minister why the UK did not engage in treaty talks last year.
The former Workington MP referred to a treaty proposed by Russian authorities last year during a previous escalation in tensions on the Ukrainian border.
In the draft treaty, Russia demanded “legal guarantees” of its security and a list of demands previously ruled-out by Nato. Russia also demanded that the North Atlantic Alliance expands no further including to Ukraine.
Some commentators have said that the treaty was a half-hearted attempt at peace negotiations to justify the invasion of Ukraine, but Lord Campbell-Savours believes the treaty could have been a starting point to broker peace.
Speaking in the House of Lords, he said: “My lords, why, prior to a war now riddled with Russian atrocities, did we reject the December 2021 Russian proposed talks on a draft treaty covering security guarantees; arms control, self-governance within Ukraine for Donetsk and the maintenance of the existing corridor of non-nuclear barrier states from Finland to the Black Sea?
“Russia’s proposed treaty was only in draft so why didn’t we use it? Indeed, why don’t we use it? Build on it as the basis for negotiation and at least try to end this proxy war.”
In response, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: “My lords, there’s a simple answer to that. For any partner to a negotiation, you need them to uphold the rule of law.”
Lord Ahmad is a Government minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
He said that Russia repeatedly failed to uphold the rule of law. “In 2008 through its aggression in Georgia, in 2014 through its annexation of Crimea. These are illegal acts, illegal acts of aggression. As is the current war in Ukraine,” he added.
