Russia’s full-scale invasion of the territory of Ukraine nullified allexisting norms of international law and agreements on peace andprotection of civilians and objects. Russia is waging the largestwar of the 21st century, the consequences of which can be felt farbeyond the borders of Ukraine and the European continent ingeneral.
One of the global consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine isthe impossibility of transporting food by sea, which triggers thefood crisis in the countries of the Global South. In addition tologistical difficulties, Russia also creates unfavorable conditionsfor growing food crops by occupying a large part of southernUkraine, causing a disaster at the Kakhovka HPP, contaminatingfields with remnants of explosive weapons it uses againstcivilians, etc. Russia seeks to destroy Ukraine’s significance onthe global food market, where it is a reliable supplier (and despitecurrent difficulties, continues to fulfill its obligations), and to ruin the relations with the countries of the Global South, which are themain consumers of Ukrainian grain.
The world already needs a new model of security architecture inorder to avoid new provocations and further escalation ofaggressive intentions of warlike states in various regions. It isnecessary to create new platforms on the basis of which securitydecisions would be made, with working guarantees of peace andsecurity, including food security. The Global Peace Summit, which will be held on June 15-16 in Switzerland, should be thefirst step towards restoring the global security architecture andcountering the aggression of some countries. It is expected thatrepresentatives from more than 80 countries will take part in it: presidents, prime ministers of states from all continents, membersof the G7, G20, and BRICS have received invitations toSwitzerland. The EU, UN, OSCE and the Council of Europe wereinvited to the Global Peace Summit.
The Global Peace Summit is not about dividing the world into a “collective West” and “East”, which actually confirms theparticipation of representatives of states from all continents, inparticular, India, the Global South “heavyweight”. Commentingon the participation in the G7 meeting and the Peace Summit inUkraine, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Indiawould participate in all important summits with the global peaceagenda, security and development. India, he said, would “get thevoice of the Global South out” at these summits to create theglobal discourse and promote the vision of the people-orienteddevelopment, a prosperous and peaceful world.
As you know, the Ukrainian peace formula consists of 10 points, including food security, which is essential for further partnershipbetween Ukraine and the countries of the Global South. A justpeace in Ukraine will become a reliable basis for the food securityof the world, and that is why the presence of the Global Southleaders at the Summit and their solidarity with Ukraine isstrategically important for the further mutually beneficial trade. However, as is already known, Russia does not stop trying to spoilthe cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of the GlobalSouth, spreading destructive propaganda, creating falseimpression of peace and security.
For instance, Russian propaganda had its influence on the head ofone of the largest states of the Global South – Brazil. Actions of the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva indicate a biastowards Russia, although he declares about his country’s neutrality towards both Ukraine and Russia, and the readiness tobe a mediator in the negotiations. Taking into account the regularvisits of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian FederationLavrov to Brazil and the refusal to participate in the PeaceSummit, Lula da Silva did what he did, leveling his statements ofneutrality.
The refusal of the head of Brazil to participate in the Global PeaceSummit is caused, according to him, by the absence of both sidesof the conflict, because Russia has not been invited to the eventand will not participate in it. However, at the very beginning ofthe full-scale war, Ukraine and Russia held negotiations, whichwere not successful – because Russia did not give up its aggressiveplans. As for food security, Russia is not particularly keen on iteither. It is worth remembering July 2022, when Russia attackedthe Odesa port, destroying grain ready for shipment. Thishappened the day after the conclusion of the “grain agreement”.
It is obvious that until Russia feels the pressure of the majority ofstates, all treaties with it are nothing. It is for this purpose that theGlobal Peace Summit is convened, because the participation ofheads of state from different parts of the world proves theirintention to oppose Russia’s aggressive plans not only againstUkraine, but also against themselves – in food, energy, or anyother spheres.
