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According to reports, Russia is ready for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Putin’s reaction, however, speaks volumes. And the confusion is taking on even more insane ramifications.
Moscow – Does Russia’s strongman suddenly want a ceasefire in Ukraine? Reports from the British news agency Reuters about this new development in the Ukraine war are currently causing a stir. But at the same time, Vladimir Putin has traveled to his vassal in Belarus to rattle his nuclear sabres and revealed there what he thinks about the rumours of a ceasefire.
According to Reuters insiders, Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready for a ceasefire that would establish the current front line. This was reported on Friday (May 24, 2024). Putin can “fight as long as necessary,” a person familiar with the talks in Putin’s immediate circle told the news agency. “But Putin is also ready for a ceasefire – to freeze the war,” the insider is quoted as saying. Three of the four Reuters insiders reported that Putin had made statements along these lines. Russia’s president is “frustrated” by what he sees as Western attempts to prevent negotiations. Putin also complained about the decision of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to rule out talks with Putin.
Ceasefire in the Ukraine war? Putin’s confusion about possible new negotiations
At the same time, Putin also made it clear that he currently sees no basis for negotiations. When asked about the Reuters information, the President for Life replied during his visit to Belarus that they were in principle ready to talk: “But who should we negotiate with? (…) Of course, we realize that the legitimacy of the incumbent head of state has expired.” Putin is alluding to the fact that the term of office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was actually supposed to end on Monday. However, due to the martial law imposed in Ukraine, Zelensky will remain in office until elections can be held.
Putin is thus playing a double game: on the one hand, he is showing himself ready for peace during a major Russian offensive in Ukraine – in a war of aggression that he started in violation of international law. At the same time, however, he is ruling out negotiations because he denies the legitimacy of the Ukrainian leadership. This fits with the Russian myth that Ukraine is not a legitimate country. From the Russian perspective, negotiations are apparently only possible via Ukraine, but not with it.
But Putin’s perfidious propaganda goes even further.
Does Russia really want peace in Ukraine? Putin’s ambassador criticizes the USA
The fundamental willingness to negotiate, which is ultimately ruled out, is being used in parallel to portray the West as a warmonger. “The signals from the American authorities are completely clear. They are doing everything to prolong the conflict and increase the number of victims on the Russian and Ukrainian sides, including among the civilian population,” said the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, according to Cup on Friday.
The US government had previously announced new arms deliveries to Ukraine worth 275 million US dollars. Russia’s narrative: On the very day that Russia “unequivocally” declared its readiness to start negotiations in the Ukraine war, the US announced “the delivery of deadly products to the puppets”.
Ceasefire in the Ukraine war? “The Kremlin regularly feigns interest”
The military experts of the think tank from Institute for the Study of War They say: “The Kremlin regularly feigns interest in meaningful negotiations. This is part of a long-running information operation designed to persuade the West to make concessions regarding Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.” Reuters’ reports are “in sharp contrast to Russia’s official public rhetoric and actions.”
He continued: “A ceasefire that cedes the currently occupied territories would concretize the idea that Ukraine’s territorial integrity is negotiable, a precedent that the Kremlin would surely use again to demand further territorial concessions and challenge the idea of a Ukrainian state altogether.”
According to the reports, the US State Department also contradicted this point: any peace initiative must respect the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine with its internationally recognized borders. Ukrainian President Zelenskyj had also repeatedly expressed this.
Ukraine ceasefire? Putin’s plan goes even further – and he has an ace up his sleeve
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba sees the Russian move as an attempt by Putin to undermine the peace talks planned in Switzerland. Ukraine initiated these and is hoping for support from the West. The talks are to take place without Russia. “Putin currently has no desire to end his aggression against Ukraine,” Kuleba wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
That fits. Because Putin declared loudly Republic in Minsk that the peace conference was a “public relations stunt”. Political scientist Tatiana Stanovaja told the Italian newspaper: “The Kremlin is signaling to the West that Selensky must be removed because Moscow sees him as an obstacle.” And in Moscow, according to the paper, they also have an idea who should replace Selensky: Ukraine’s ex-president Viktor Yanukovych. The pro-Russian politician fled to Russia with all his acquired wealth after the bloody suppression of protests in Ukraine. He also traveled with Putin to see Lukashenko in Belarus on Friday. (rist)
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