Proposed 'East Germany-West Germany' conflict resolution model strains Ukraine-NATO relations amid territorial concession talks.
As Russia's attempted occupation of Ukrainian territories continues for a span of 1.5 years, the question of when the war will conclude remains unanswered. The proposition of the ‘East Germany-West Germany’ model, advocating territorial concessions by Ukraine to end the conflict, has been raised in Western media in recent months. However, it is evident that Kyiv is reluctant to endorse this concept.
Recalling the division of Germany during the Cold War, where West Germany formally joined NATO in 1955 while East Germany remained under Soviet governance, Ukraine has steadfastly declared its commitment to territorial integrity. Nevertheless, for the first time, an official statement alluding to this model was articulated during a meeting. According to Norwegian newspaper VG, a statement by Stian Jenssen, Director of the Private Office of the NATO Secretary General, during a session in Norway suggested that Ukraine could become a NATO member and terminate the war if it cedes a portion of its territory to Russia. This statement provoked tensions between Ukraine and NATO.
Ukraine's Presidential Advisor, Mykhailo Podolyak, responded emphatically to NATO's senior official's proposal. Podolyak said that unless Putin experiences a clear defeat, there's a change in Russia's political system, and those responsible for war crimes are brought to justice, the conflict will unavoidably return, accompanied by further Russian demands.
Podolyak also highlighted the importance of ramping up sanctions against Russia in order to end the war, improving and expediting the supply of weapons to Ukraine, and isolating Russia on the international stage. Simultaneously, NATO restated its steadfast position on the issue, affirming that its stance remains clear and unchanged. As emphasized by NATO leaders during the July summit in Vilnius, they continue to provide unwavering backing for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Following Russia's withdrawal from the grain corridor agreement, the Ukrainian administration announced the establishment of a humanitarian corridor for trade vessels in the Black Sea. A container ship departing from a port in the Odessa region, as disclosed in Kiev's announcement, utilized this corridor for sea navigation. The vessel, identified as the Hong Kong-flagged ship Joseph Schulte, is noted to have been in a Ukrainian port since February 23, 2022. Additionally, it was reported that from January to the present, 8.1 million tons of Ukrainian grain have been exported from Romanian ports to global markets.
