Turkmenistan's Reaction On Ukrainian Crisis 2014
A prolonged crisis in Ukraine began in 21st of November 2013 when then President Viktor Yanukovych suspended the preparatory work for the implementation of the association with the European Union. The decision caused mass protests from the supporters of the agreement and the ambassador of It Viktor Yuychenko who was Yanukovych’s political rival. The protests, in turn, provoked a revolt that led to the expulsion of Yunakovich. After the expulsion, there was a great deal of turmoil in the Russian-speaking eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, of which Yuanakovic had taken most of his support.
In 2014, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, two regions located in the surrounding area of Donbass region, claimed their independence. The Minsk agreements that were set up to put an end to the crisis had no effect. Turkmenistan recognizes the extent and heaviness of the matter as the consequences are severe, involve human loss and creates an unstable environment that reflects across the region. Having as a guideline Turkmenistan's past with the USSR and the Russian aggression that Turkmenistan has been trying for years to avoid, the position of Turkmenistan could not be anything else beyond clear.
For most of the Soviet era, Turkmenistan was the most controlled republic of the USSR. Turkmenistan still believes that the policies of Soviet Union were exploitative. Turkmenistan considers Russian sovereignty violations in the CIS region as a threat to its own security and that is the basis of the ideological solidarity with Ukraine. Turkmenistan supports the independence, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. On October 2015 during historical negotiations that was held in Ashgabat it became clear that the two states are looking forward to cooperate for the stability of the security and the establishment of a trusting climate in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
The Turkmen President stressed that the two countries have once again reaffirmed their strong commitment to strengthening the principles of equality in the international arena, respect for their sovereignty, noninterference in the internal affairs of other states and respect the right to choose their own model of development. Moreover, the Heads of the countries agreed to enhance cooperation within the international organizations, and specifically the United Nations and the OSCE. Turkmenistan and Ukraine will introduce practice of mutual support in the world political arena that has proved its efficiency, as the Turkmen President noted.
Under those circumstances, the humanitarian and also the realistic option is to try and end the war as soon as possible which means reaching a political settlement. One potential approach is that peacekeepers would be deployed in phases while Ukraine implements some of the measures it has agreed to under the Minsk agreements. The most important start is to try to make progress on the implementation of the Minsk agreements and then also different proposals including these proposals to have UN forces included. One way of trying to reach an agreement is a phased approach is one.
Peacekeepers must not only be responsible for the OSCE monitors but be responsible for the whole region, including making the border between Russia and Ukraine an accessible border. To break the deadlock with Russia over Ukraine, Russia must take the first steps to de-escalate violence and resolve this conflict by fully implementing the Minsk Accords. The country of Turkmenistan is looking forward to proceed with finding different ways to overcome the obstacles and then start to make progress.
