ABSTRACT
In 1992, the UN Office of Legal Affairs published the Handbook on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes between States, which identified the following methods: (a) Negotiation and consultation, (b) Inquiry, (c) Good offices, (d) Mediation, (e) Conciliation, (f) Arbitration, (g) Judicial settlement, (h) Resort to regional agencies or arrangements and (i) Other peaceful means. The chapter examines whether any of these peaceful means were used to resolve the Russia–Ukraine War, why they failed if they were used, and if they were not, why so. In accepting the Charter of the United Nations, Member States are obliged to follow its methods of peaceful resolution of disputes. Of course, states have an inherent right of individual or collective self-defense, as per Article 51 of the UN Charter. The chapter concludes that Ukraine's supporters have put most emphasis on Article 51, largely neglecting mediation and other peaceful methods of conflict prevention and settlement under Chapter VI. The chapter ends with some thoughts about a possible revival of negotiation/mediation efforts under the new Trump Administration.
