In the now notorious 'Trump 28-point peace plan' for settling the Ukraine conflict, there was included an amnesty for all war crimes committed since 2022. While the plan was initially said to have been drawn up by the US and Russia, this controversial clause - which rapidly disappeared without trace - should have demonstrated that the Russian government had no part in the plan - as it has repeatedly stated. It seems necessary to explain why Russia would never have conceived of such a requirement or approved of it, as most in the West, from ordinary uninformed citizens to 'experts', to government ministers, would assume that such a clause would allow Russia to dodge responsibility for its war crimes. This false assumption and the prevailing anti-Russian sentiment that underlies it was well illustrated by an SBS report on the day of the statement, narrated by Ben Lewis:
It was hardly a surprise to see Bucha mentioned in SBS report - though perhaps not presented as the leading case of "Russian war crimes", of which it is made the perfect example. But Russia was NOT responsible for the deaths of civilians in Bucha, nor for laying their bodies out on the street ready to be photographed by the hungry Western news hounds. As illustrated in the report, Ukrainians were not happy with this clause - which might prevent 'justice for the victims of Russian brutality' from being registered. Those Ukrainians did not realise that they are victims of Kiev's and NATO's brutality. Neither were they aware of the degree to which such an amnesty could save them from prosecution over their own war crimes, committed against Russian-speaking Ukrainians and against citizens in 'old Russia' - as well as even against their own soldiers. (such was the targeting of their prisoners of war held in Yelenovka prison) Ironically however, Russia was also opposed to such an amnesty as it would allow many criminals with much blood on their hands to remain free in Western Ukraine. Russia's opposition would not be based on fear of prosecution itself, as there are few examples of war crimes they have committed - that one is aware of; but it's hard to see supporters of Ukraine or its citizens accepting this fact, after being lied to for four years. This question was well discussed back in July 2022, when the Age/SMH ran a series of articles from their reporter Anthony Galloway, following his visit to Ukraine's Kherson region. Before publication, Galloway approached the Russian Embassy in Canberra, asking them to verify or dispute his claims of mistreatment of specific Ukrainian citizens by Russian forces. It is an article worth reading for an insight into the blinkered and prejudiced view of the conflict prevalent amongst Western reporters, particularly given the Age/SMH's current series on "Russia's Blood Oil", which demonstrates that the journalists remain as unenlightened as ever. The second half of the SBS news report illustrates this state of delusion, which is especially present in the UK and EU - according to their response to the 28 point plan:
No doubt there will be more to add to this very soon.... DM 26 November 2025