With the agreement between the United States and Ukraine for a temporary 30-day ceasefire now in place, the next crucial step is to persuade Russia to accept the ceasefire. Once this has been achieved, the following priority should be to establish mechanisms that allow civilians to cross the front line to reunite with family members.
For civilians to move across the front line safely and efficiently, designated crossing points must be identified and agreed upon by both parties. These fixed points should be positioned at strategic locations where travel routes remain viable and where military risks can be minimized. Potential crossing points could include areas such as:
Zaporizhzhia-Kherson Axis: A location along the Dnipro River (perhaps immediately south of the city of Zaporizhzhia, where a civilian crossing point existed at the early stages of the second Russian invasion of Ukraine) that could provide access between Ukrainian-controlled territories and Russian-occupied areas.
Bakhmut-Kostiantynivka Corridor: Given the extensive fighting in this region, a humanitarian crossing could facilitate reunions between civilians displaced by the conflict.
Sumy-Belgorod Region: A northern crossing point for civilians seeking to move between Ukraine and Russia-proper.
Vovchansk-Kharkiv Route: An area where families separated by shifting front lines could be allowed to reunite.
Security and Vetting Measures
To ensure that these crossings remain secure and do not become points of military infiltration, comprehensive security protocols must be established:
Screening Procedures:
Every person or vehicle attempting to cross must be searched for weapons, ammunition, or military intelligence documents.
Biometric identification and background checks should be conducted in advance where possible.
Restrictions on Fighting-Age Men:
Initially, males aged 18-60 may be restricted from crossing to prevent military desertion or infiltration.
A transparent vetting process should be developed to allow exceptions under humanitarian grounds.
Third-Party Verification and Intermediaries:
A neutral international organisation (such as the Red Cross or the OSCE) could manage applications for cross-line movement.
Information regarding applicants could be shared with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities through a secure, vetted process to avoid misuse, the information being passed via a third party if direct relations were unable to be established.
Supervision and Monitoring
Each crossing point should be overseen by:
Ukrainian and Russian soldiers on their respective sides to maintain control and security.
Contracted civilian supervisors to ensure transparency and mitigate the risk of armed conflict reigniting.
International Observers from neutral parties to document the process and report any violations.
Historical Precedents
Similar procedures have been implemented in other conflicts:
Arizona Market in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina: This market functioned as a civilian trading hub during the post-war period, allowing controlled interactions between previously warring factions.
Mitrovica Bridge, Kosovo: A highly monitored crossing point that remains a focal area for ethnic reconciliation efforts.
Feasibility and Challenges
While the logistics of such a process are complex, past examples suggest that with sufficient international oversight and commitment from both sides, such crossings can be made viable. Challenges include:
Mutual distrust between Ukrainian and Russian authorities.
Potential sabotage attempts or security breaches by extremist elements.
Logistical difficulties in setting up proper screening and verification infrastructure.
Conclusions
Establishing civilian crossing points as part of a broader ceasefire mechanism is both a humanitarian necessity and a potential confidence-building measure that could contribute to longer-term peace efforts. If properly implemented, these crossings could help de-escalate tensions and provide a pathway for incremental normalisation of interactions between both sides.