So That It Is Not In Vain, Commission I Hopes That President Jokowi's Visits To Russia And Ukraine Will Bear Fruit

Effendi Simbolon (center)/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission I, Effendi Simbolon, praised President Joko Widodo's efforts about peace diplomacy between Russia and Ukraine in the hope of influencing the attitudes of the two warring countries.

"Hopefully this will have an impact on changing the attitudes of the two countries", said Effendi Simbolon in a discussion at the Nusantara III Building, Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Jakarta, Thursday.

Effendi assessed that President Jokowi carried out a basic diplomatic stage by trying to invite the two countries to make peace while conveying the aspirations of the world community on behalf of developing countries and their position as the G20 Presidency.

The diplomatic efforts have been submitted to the President of Ukraine. At this time President Jokowi is heading to Moscow, Russia, to convey the same thing.

Effendi himself has not seen whether this stage will involve a follow-up to the next diplomatic stage, such as offering Indonesia as a mediator or a place in Indonesia to carry out negotiations between Russia and Ukraine or the G7 countries consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain, and the United States.

The DPR RI will wait for an explanation regarding the results of President Jokowi's diplomacy to Ukraine and Russia considering that the stages of diplomacy have protocols.

On the same occasion, military defense observer Connie Rahakundini Bakrie also appreciated President Jokowi's diplomatic efforts to Ukraine and Russia.

President Jokowi's diplomacy, according to him, is important because there are no G7 countries that act as parties to solve problems or try to reduce the impact of problems. Instead, they are adding to the problem through sanctions against Russia or sending weapons aid to Ukraine.

"I think President Jokowi's position as the leader of an Asian country who comes first to the battlefields of Russia and Ukraine, then being able to talk to the two warring countries is a good step", Connie said.

Connie said that President Jokowi's spiritual atmosphere was not easy considering that the war between Russia and Ukraine was not a war between two countries, but a war of one country against one country with his friends, with Ukraine itself becoming a war mandala for other countries so the situation was complicated.

He also invited all parties to believe in President Jokowi's diplomatic efforts as a good step. However, one must also be prepared that diplomacy to achieve peace between Russia and Ukraine requires a long process.

The two countries must certainly carry out a ceasefire first, then the G7 countries that are involved in the conflict also reduce their involvement by withdrawing all weapons so that Russia and Ukraine can be calmer and can resolve the problems between the two countries.

President Jokowi's diplomacy, he said, was to bring about a peace mission between Russia and Ukraine. This will greatly benefit Indonesia's position as the Presidency of the G20 Summit in Bali.

According to him, if there have been concrete steps in the last few months, such as a ceasefire, it is possible that the President of Ukraine and the President of Russia could attend the G20 summit. Thus, there is an opportunity to make Denpasar, Bali, the location of the summit as a place to create peace between Russia and Ukraine.