How to Stop the Fire

US President Donald Trump received consent from both of them to a partial ceasefire during two telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin (March 18) and current Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky (March 19).

Moscow and Kiev basically agreed to a ban on attacks on “energy facilities”. Putin said that he had given the order for the immediate fulfillment of the obligation, Zelensky did not give such an order publicly.

Predictably, statements about non-compliance with the ban began to come from both sides. Zelensky simply and without evidence accused Moscow of “attacking an energy facility” (later it was reported that it was a Ukrainian railway facility). Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones set fire to the Kavkazskaya oil pumping station in Kuban with their strike, a large-scale fire continued for several days.

Many world media, hostile to Trump’s peacemaking, rushed to proclaim the “failure” of the partial ceasefire and the entire course toward a diplomatic settlement of the crisis. Militarist circles demand that instead of diplomacy, arms supplies to Ukraine and sanctions against Russia be increased.

Meanwhile, it is clear to sane and conscientious people that a partial (“energy”) ceasefire is vulnerable because it is not supported organizationally. The idea did not become a project.

It is strange that the American side, proud of its pragmatism, has not yet made any specific proposals on what types of energy facilities fall under the “fire immunity”.

It is quite obvious that the ban on bombing should not apply to the entire energy sector (it is impossible to track), but specifically to three types of large systemically important energy facilities: power plants — nuclear, thermal, hydroelectric; associated dams and other critical facilities that ensure the continuity and safety of generation; electric substations — generator, transmission and large distribution; oil and gas facilities — storage facilities, pumping stations, pipelines, port terminals, vessels engaged in the movement and storage of gas, oil and oil products.

These large facilities are clearly visible, their condition is relatively easy to monitor by technical means. Their general lists can be quickly compiled, approved and transferred to American mediators as depositories of the peacekeeping process. And the ban on attacks on energy facilities is best secured in the Tripartite Agreement on a Partial Ceasefire — the first-born in Donald Trump’s collection.

It is important to quickly begin a register of small but successful steps towards peace. Expand the scope of the ceasefire from energy to a general ban. Agree and document additional measures to de-escalate the conflict. Develop a final package of peace agreements.

And with practical advances, extinguish the wave of rotten skepticism artificially whipped up by the international “war party”. That’s how we will win.