Ukraine's Trauma Deepens as US-Led Peace Plan Raises Fears of Impunity
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The war-torn suburb of Bucha in Kyiv is grappling with the aftermath of a US-led peace proposal that could grant amnesty to those responsible for atrocities committed during the Russian occupation. The move has left residents, including those who lost loved ones in the 2022 massacre, feeling disillusioned and betrayed. In Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were killed and buried in mass graves, the proposed amnesty has sparked widespread outrage. The town's residents, who have already suffered unimaginable trauma, fear that the proposal would legitimize further violence and undermine efforts to hold perpetrators accountable. Father Andriy Halavin, the leader of the local Church of Andrew the Apostle, believes that amnesty would send a 'green light' to those responsible for the atrocities, emboldening them to continue their violent acts. The church stands adjacent to a mass grave where civilians were brutally murdered, with some showing signs of torture. The proposed 28-point peace deal, hammered out in secret negotiations between Russian and US envoys, would require Ukraine to cede territory, reduce its military, and abandon NATO membership in exchange for international security guarantees and reconstruction assistance. For many Ukrainians, the proposed deal is unacceptable. Vira Katanenko, a 66-year-old widow who lost her son in the war, is among those who cannot accept the idea of amnesty for those responsible for the atrocities. 'They want forgiveness for all war crimes, including Bucha? That's horrifying,' she said. European leaders have emphasized the need for Ukraine to be included in peace talks and protected from any deal that would compromise its sovereignty. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pledged to work with Washington, but also vowed to seek changes to the proposed deal. As the uncertainty surrounding the peace plan weighs heavily on the residents of Bucha, they are reminded of the fragility of any promised future. 'How can you exchange the territory of your ancestors for something? For what?' asked Andrii Honcharuk, a 71-year-old retired territorial defense volunteer. 'The war will not end soon. We will still be dying for a long time.'
