For UGM Observers, Prabowo's Peace Proposal For The Ukraine-Russia Conflict Does Not Make Sense

Photo via @Ukraine

JAKARTA - European study observer from UGM, Muhadi Sugiono, assessed that the proposal to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia submitted by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore did not make sense and did not consider many aspects.

One of the proposals of concern is about the referendum between Ukraine and Russia. According to Muhadi, Ukraine may not want to because it feels like the party being attacked by Russia.

"It doesn't make sense. So, for example, for example, our neighboring countries attack our one region, then the peace proposal, yes, Indonesia has not attacked, and neighboring countries do not attack. Then the areas attacked do a referendum. It doesn't make sense, even though it's an Indonesian territory," said Muhadi, Wednesday, June 7.

Muhadi said, Prabowo should consider the legal formal situation and then aspects of political interests to the history of the two countries. So if Indonesia wants to play a role, it can be done by inviting the party to sit down together.

"Persis seperti dulu Jakarta informal meeting, konflik Indochina, Indonesia memainkan peran di sana, mengajak orang-orang yang terlibat konflik ada di situ," ujarnya.

Furthermore, Muhadi said Prabowo's proposal could be seen from two things, firstly the desire to stop the war to the ongoing violence. From that side, there is no problem because all parties want this, including Ukraine and Russia.

However, he said the problem was how to stop it. Suggestions such as a ceasefire, each country withdrew 15 km, bringing UN troops to a referendum were not the right thing.

"This is a problem, because between Ukraine and Russia there is no fighting for an area that is not on the territory of either side. But it is Russia that wants to take over Ukrainian territory," said Muhadi.

"So it is the sovereignty of the Ukrainian territory. So if you want to talk about stopping the war with a situation that is now not benefiting the Ukrainian side," he said.

Related to this, Muhadi again said that the proposal offered by Prabowo did not benefit both parties.

"To distinguish the proposal is good or not, it is seen how when our proposal then fulfills the interests or rights and obligations of each country. In the current form, the proposal does not seem to take that into account. Now this is a problem," said Muhadi.

More than that, Muhadi was reluctant to suspect the proposal was a form of Prabowo's alignment with Russia. However, he called the proposal reasonable to be rejected by Ukraine for harming them.

"We can't state that it's defending Russia, no. But that the proposal is in Russia's favor, yes. So I don't imagine we submitted the proposal that Prabowo wanted to side with Russia, no. But the consequences of the contents of the proposal seemed as if Prabowo's position was in Russia's favor," he said.