Normandy Format
The Normandy Format (French: Format Normandie), also known as the Normandy contact group, is a grouping of states who met in an effort to resolve the war in Donbas and the wider Russo-Ukrainian War. The four countries who make up the group—Germany, Russia, Ukraine, and France—first met informally in 2014 during the 70th anniversary of D-Day celebrations in Normandy, France.[1]
History[edit]
The Normandy Format was predated by the Joint Geneva Statement (Agreement), signed by Ukraine, Russia, the European Union, and the United States in April 2014. As Paul D'Anieri writes, "In Russia’s interpretation, it committed the Ukrainian government to refraining from the use of force against the separatists. Second, it intervened in Ukraine’s constitutional process, where Russia strongly supported decentralization. Third, it dealt with the crisis as an internal Ukrainian conflict – Russia itself took on no obligations."[2]
Creation and composition[edit]
The group was created on 6 June 2014, when leaders from France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine met on the margins of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day allied landings in Normandy.[3] The group, compared to the previous Geneva process, has not included the United States. This development was in Russia's favor and helped to "cleave off" the EU from the US.[2] The format operates mainly through telephone calls between the leaders and foreign ministers. The Normandy Format has at times been expanded to include Belarus, Italy, and the United Kingdom.[4][5]
Meetings[edit]
2014[edit]
Early talks in 2014 led to the establishment of the Trilateral Contact Group in order to facilitate further talks between Russia and Ukraine. This, along with mediation through the Normandy Format, directly led to the establishment of Minsk Protocol.[6] This agreement, signed in September 2014, outlined several provisions for peace in the Donbas Region and Crimea.
2015[edit]
Following a continued break-down of relations in early 2015, the Normandy Format met during talks in Belarus from 11 to 12 February 2015. This was precipitated by a joint French-Germany diplomatic plan, which was negotiated overnight for over sixteen hours while the group met in Minsk.[7][8][9] The emerging package, Minsk II, negotiated ceasefires as well as planned domestic reforms in Ukraine.[10]
Negotiations and talks were stalled from 2016 until autumn 2019.
