UKRAINE
There is a slight possibility that we are at the end of the road; peace might be
dawning, might be not.
Not all the forces coming out in force declaring support for President Zelensky, are
really caring about the well-being of Ukraine and the people there, nor are necessarily
championing European values and principles. On the other side of the hill, it is
STRAVON s perception that Russia is nowadays more amenable to cessation of
hostilities, than the case was three months ago in Anchorage, Alaska.
It is of utmost importance to persevere on this sustained effort to arrive at a viable
settlement in and around Ukraine.
The 28-point plan of US, as became public on Friday November 21, is hard to swallow
for the authorities in Kiev. Nevertheless, it represents a certain point of departure on
which to build, more so if one considers that no real alternative draft plan has been
aired by the permanently ruminating Europeans, continental and insular. The
American plan is credited for linking the settlement of the Ukrainian Question with
broader issues of strategic stability (point n.17), in other words nuclear arms control
and related delivery systems. It is of special importance that it does address aspects
pertaining to civic peace and human rights, aka ecclesiastical freedom and language
liberties. In the same vein the plan addresses head on one of the fundamental causes
of this war: internationally sanctioned permanent neutrality/ no NATO membership
of Ukraine. It is tragic that wisdom prevails only after hecatombs perished in the
trenches. STRAVON thinks that an herculean work must be done in the realm of
synchronizing and implementing the peace process. Neither EU, nor OSCE and UN can
be left out.
The reparations and reconstruction issue
While the Belgian opposition to usurping frozen Russian assets is very well
documented, it is clear that upon conclusion of a long term armistice, a part of the
said assets in one way or the other will be funnelled to the reconstruction endeavour.
The issue of sovereignty transfer is of special importance. No de iure transfer of
Ukrainian lands to the Russian Federation is acceptable. Autonomous Crimea and
Sevastopol are special cases.
CAUCASUS
Precarious is the position of the Republic of Armenia ensconced as it lies between the
main part of Azerbaijan plus its exclave Nachichevan and Turkey on one hand, Georgia
and Iran on the other, with Russia waiting eagerly to reassert its status as the power
maintaining order (Ordnungsfunktion) in northern Caucasus as well as in its “near
abroad” in the Southern Caucasus. Yerevan while fully complying with spirit and letter
of Washington accords of August 8, 2025, instituting the TRIPP (Trump Route for
International Peace and Prosperity), energetically pursues the north-south route
linking Iran to the Black Sea ports of Georgia and to Russia further afield. The whole
will be crystallized in the desirable “Crossroads of Peace”. This ambitious project is
questioned not only by Azerbaijan still occupying parts of Armenian state territory
but even by the disaffected Armenian Apostolic Church, energetically opposing
policies of PM Nichol Pashinyan which they deem harmful to the nation.
THE POPE IN THE EAST
Pope s Leo XIV fraternal journey 27-30 November 2025 to Constantinople and Nikaia
(Iznik, Turkey) to commemorate the 1700th anniversary since the First Ecumenical
Council held 325 a.D. in Nikaia, chief town of Bithynia, along with the Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomaios I is an event of global importance. The major Christian
Churches, Catholic and Orthodox, walk along the path opened 60 years ago by Pope
Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras with the lifting of (medieval) reciprocal
anathemas.
With the opening to the East, Vatican reinforces its message, its position within the
secularizing societies in Europe, while the Ecumenical Patriarchate radiates its
mission statement worldwide and alleviates pressure from the morass of the
ecclesiastical intra-Orthodox rift in Ukraine. Besides, the Catholic clergy, with
decreasing number of faithful in Europe, is given a fresh opportunity to draw from
the Orthodox spirituality.
STRAVON of Amaseia,
Athens, 30 November 2025
