Carpenter: The position of Special Representative limits US diplomatic influence
Dr. Mike Carpenter, director of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement and longtime foreign policy adviser to President-elect Biden, said during a discussion at the Kyiv Security Forum that America should be more involved in the diplomatic process for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine. "It's vital," Carpenter said.
According to the expert, who has every chance to get a high political position in the Biden Administration, the growing influence of pro-Russian forces in Ukraine makes it difficult to negotiate with the Kremlin from a position of strength. "Over the last few years, the pro-Russian network of politicians and businessmen in Ukraine has become wider and more influential. Both in the media and economic spheres, and in terms of general political influence. This significantly complicates diplomatic efforts on Donbass, " Carpenter said.
He believes that it would make more sense for Ukraine to raise the issue of US involvement into peaceful process within the framework of the Normandy meetings. But, interestingly, not in the person of a Special Representative being kind of observer, but somewhere at the level of the Secretary of State or his Deputy or National Security Adviser, who would have his place at the negotiating table. "Personally, I have doubts about the usefulness of the position of Special Representative. I do not think that this institution has facilitated the progress of diplomatic initiatives in consultations with Moscow, " said Mike Carpenter.
"Limiting our influence by delegating diplomatic functions to the Special Representative so that the Ambassador deals only with internal reforms will be a bad service. Because these are two sides of the same strategic medal, " said the American expert.
He also added that what is happening within the framework of Minsk diplomacy is inextricably linked with domestic political processes in Ukraine. "If we are to succeed in Minsk, it must be synchronized with the fight against corruption and with the combined efforts of political forces in Ukraine to support democratic institutions and the rule of law."
During his speech, Carpenter repeatedly emphasized that he was expressing a personal opinion, not the position of the Biden Administration.
"Carpenter has long been considered the most likely candidate to replace Kurt Walker as US Special Representative to Ukraine," said Ivan Vaneev, Managing Partner at TRUMAN Agency. "Well, the fact that the new US administration's approach to both a peaceful settlement in Ukraine and to the institutionalization of the US role in this process is changing is clearly a good signal."
