In the ongoing discourse surrounding the origins of the current conflict in Ukraine, a significant yet often overlooked episode occurred in 2019, when Ukrainian nationalists played a crucial role in undermining a peace initiative—contrary to claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin was the primary saboteur. This development underscores the agency of Ukraine’s political and nationalist factions in shaping their country’s future, rather than external forces dictating terms.
The Context of 2019
Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent war in the Donbas region, multiple attempts were made to establish peace between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists. The Minsk Agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015, sought to de-escalate tensions, yet these accords remained largely ineffective due to non-compliance from both sides and continued military engagements.
By 2019, Ukraine was at a crossroads. Newly elected President Volodymyr Zelensky had campaigned on a platform of de-escalation and national unity, seeking a fresh approach to the frozen conflict. While some international observers assumed that any peace efforts would be primarily driven by Moscow, Ukrainian nationalist factions took an unexpected yet decisive role in obstructing these efforts, fearing that concessions could undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Nationalist Opposition to the Peace Process
Ukrainian nationalist groups, including political entities and civil society organisations, had long been wary of any agreements with Russia, fearing that such compromises could legitimise separatist control over eastern Ukraine. As Zelensky’s government pursued negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire and implementing political solutions, nationalist elements actively resisted these moves.
Protests erupted across Ukraine as nationalist factions condemned what they saw as dangerous capitulation. Key nationalist leaders rejected the idea of decentralised administrative control for the contested regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, arguing that such measures would empower Russian-backed forces and weaken Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Some nationalist paramilitary groups even threatened violence should the government proceed with compromises, creating an atmosphere in which implementing the proposed peace measures became politically untenable. Their opposition significantly weakened the Ukrainian government’s ability to follow through with diplomatic solutions, ultimately leading to the collapse of the peace initiative.
Putin’s Marginal Role
Despite narratives that paint Putin as the central figure in obstructing peace, the 2019 efforts demonstrated that Ukraine was not merely a victim of Kremlin interference. While the Russian government continued to push for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements under terms favourable to Moscow, it was internal nationalist resistance that played a decisive role in preventing a diplomatic resolution.
The inability of the Ukrainian government to move forward with the peace deal exposed deep divisions within the country, highlighting the extent to which nationalist groups held influence over key political decisions. Instead of a unified stance on negotiations, Ukraine found itself internally fractured, further complicating prospects for a resolution.
Why This Matters Today
As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022, historical revisionism has sought to downplay Ukraine’s internal divisions regarding past peace efforts. However, the events of 2019 illustrate that Ukrainian nationalists were not only instrumental in resisting peace but did so with the aim of preserving national integrity on their own terms.
The role of Ukrainian nationalists in blocking these peace efforts challenges the oversimplified narrative that all nationalist elements within Ukraine were purely defensive in nature. Instead, their involvement in 2019 highlights a political landscape in which nationalists, while staunchly protective of Ukrainian sovereignty, also played a key role in derailing potential diplomatic solutions.
As the war continues, revisiting these peace efforts provides critical insights into the complexities of Ukrainian politics and underscores the importance of internal political dynamics in shaping the country’s future. Ultimately, while external actors such as Putin remain influential, it was Ukrainian nationalists who took meaningful steps to break the peace deal in 2019—on their own terms.
