Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to present a peace proposal during the G20 summit that includes a “freeze” of the ongoing war in Ukraine. The plan, which will be discussed at the G20 summit, is expected to suggest delaying Ukraine’s NATO membership talks for at least 10 years, according to Bloomberg sources.
The proposal comes as part of Erdogan’s broader strategy to ease tensions between Ukraine and Russia while avoiding a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. According to reports, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan centers around ensuring a clear path to NATO membership and security guarantees before joining. However, Erdogan’s proposal includes a significant deviation from this course, proposing the delay of NATO talks as a concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Key Components of the Plan
Erdogan’s peace formula would also include the establishment of a demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine, the deployment of international forces to monitor the area, and military guarantees for Kyiv to compensate for remaining outside NATO.
While Turkish officials acknowledge that Ukraine might view such an offer as problematic, they also emphasize that it could provide a stable ceasefire. The proposal may appeal to some of Ukraine’s allies who are concerned about the risks of a direct NATO-Russia confrontation if Ukraine were to become a member of the Alliance.
G20 Summit and International Dialogue
The G20 summit, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 18-19, 2024, serves as a major platform for discussing global economic and geopolitical challenges. The summit provides an opportunity for world leaders to approve agreements reached during the year and to define future cooperation strategies.
At the same time, Reuters reports that G20 leaders are struggling to agree on a final joint statement following Russia’s large-scale airstrike on Ukraine on November 17, 2024.
