Sometimes in the early phases of peace negotiations, actors or mediators rely on past agreements between the two parties as a starting point. This page provides direct links to past peace agreements and drafts between Ukraine and Russia including the Minsk Agreements and the Istanbul Communique as well as resources with PILPG analyses on why these agreements should not be used as the foundation for future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Click on the title of the agreement below to access the official drafts.
The Minsk I Agreement was signed in 2014 by Ukraine, Russia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk and the People’s Republic of Luhansk. The goal of the agreement was to end the armed conflict that erupted in Ukraine’s eastern regions in early 2014.
Following the collapse of the Minsk I Agreement, the Minsk II Agreement was signed outlining additional obligations for reaching a ceasefire. Just like Minsk I, Minsk II was never fully implemented and failed to achieve peace in Ukraine.
The Istanbul Communique was an early attempt at de-escalating Russia’s war in Ukraine. It was negotiated during the first weeks of the full-scale invasion in Istanbul, Turkey. The draft focused on establishing Ukraine as a neutral state, outlining Ukraine’s security guarantees, and addressing certain other questions relevant to reaching a ceasefire in Ukraine.
PILPG Analyses of Past Agreements
This section provides analysis and arguments against over relying on past agreements and drafts negotiated between Ukraine and Russia. While these agreements were crafted with the intent of ending hostilities, their design revealed significant flaws that were detrimental to Ukraine. The resources below offer arguments against those who propose to use these past agreements as a starting point for future negotiations for ending the Russian war in Ukraine.
Relevant PILPG Analysis
This section has links to PILPG blog posts and podcast episodes that evaluate past peace agreements and drafts between Ukraine and Russia. Click on the title of the blog or podcast of interest to access it.
PILPG’s Lawyering Justice Blog:
PILPG’s Lawyering Peace: Hot Takes podcast:
coming soon.