Commentary on urgehir.hu
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory erased all existing international laws and agreements aimed at maintaining peace and protecting civilians and objects. Russia is fighting the biggest war of the 21st century, the consequences of which are felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine and the European continent as a whole.
One of the global consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine is the disruption of food transportation by sea, which has already become a prerequisite for a food crisis in the countries of the Global South. In addition to logistical difficulties, Russia is also creating unfavorable conditions for growing food crops by occupying most of southern Ukraine, deliberately creating a disaster at the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant, contaminating fields with shell debris and rockets it fires at civilians .
Russia seeks to destroy the authority of Ukraine in the world food market, where it has established itself as a reliable supplier (and despite difficult conditions continues to fulfill its obligations), and at the same time to spoil its relations with the countries of the Global South, which are the main consumers of Ukrainian grain.
The world now needs a new model of security architecture to avoid new provocations and subsequent escalation of aggressive intentions of belligerent states in various regions. This necessitates the creation of new platforms on the basis of which security decisions can be made, which are the basis for truly operational guarantees of peace and security, including food security. The Global Peace Summit, which will be held on June 15-16 in Switzerland, should be the first step towards rebuilding the global security architecture and countering the aggression of some countries. Representatives of more than 80 countries are expected to participate in it: presidents, prime ministers of countries from all continents, members of the G-7, G-20 and BRICS have received invitations to Switzerland. Representatives of the EU, the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe are invited to the global peace summit.
The global peace summit is not about dividing the world into a “collective West” and “East”, which confirms the participation of representatives of countries from all continents, in particular of the “heavyweight“ in the Global South, India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while commenting on the invitation to participate in the G7 summit and Ukraine peace summit, said that India will participate in all important summits that promote the agenda of global peace, security and development. India will “bring the voice of the Global South” at these summits to shape the global discourse and promote a vision of people-centred development and a prosperous and peaceful world, he said.
The Ukrainian peace formula, as it is known, includes 10 points, including food security - an important component for further partnership between Ukraine and the countries of the Global South. A just peace in Ukraine will be a reliable basis for food security in the world, and therefore the presence of the leaders of the countries of the Global South at the meeting and their solidarity with Ukraine has a strategic impact on the future fate of a partnership in mutually beneficial trade. However, as we know, Russia does not give up its attempts to hinder cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of the Global South, spreading destructive propaganda and creating a false image of peace and security.
Russian propaganda has affected the head of one of the largest countries in the global south - Brazil. And although Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says his country is neutral and seeks to mediate the talks, his actions show a bias toward Russia. Considering the regular visits of Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov to Brazil and his categorical refusal to participate in the Peace Summit, Lula da Silva actually indicated his preferred country.
The refusal of the head of Brazil to participate in the summit on global peace is due, according to him, to the absence of both sides in the conflict, since Russia was not invited to this event and will not participate in it. But at the very beginning of a full-scale war, Ukraine and Russia held negotiations that were unsuccessful - because Russia did not for a moment retreat from its aggressive line. As for food security, Russia is not particularly keen on it either: it is worth recalling how in July 2022 Russia attacked the port of Odessa, destroying grain ready for shipment. And this happened the day after the conclusion of the “grain agreement”.
It is obvious that until Russia feels the pressure of most countries, all agreements with it are not even worth the paper they are written on. For this purpose, the summit for global peace is convened, since the participation of heads of state from different parts of the world shows their intention to oppose Russia's aggressive plans not only against Ukraine, but also against themselves - in food, energy or other spheres.