Russian President, Vladimir Putin, pledged on Friday to initiate talks and enforce an instant “ceasefire” in Ukraine provided that Kyiv removed its forces from the four occupied regions of the country and abandoned its intentions to become a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The Russian president declared, “We will do it immediately,” during a speech at the Moscow location of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
On the eve of a peace conference in Switzerland to which Russia has not been invited, Putin set out a series of conditions wholly at odds with the terms demanded by Ukraine.
“The conditions are very simple,” Putin said, listing these as the full withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the entire territory of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Putin did not make any new demands in his speech, but they did mark a rare instance in which he made explicit what he required in order to halt the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin has already declared that Kyiv needs to acknowledge its territorial victories and renounce its NATO candidacy.
Ukraine’s Response
Ukraine on Friday itself dismissed ceasefire conditions listed by Vladimir Putin and said the remarks of the Russian President shows that he “doesn’t want to negotiate”.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called Putin’s suggestions “offensive to common sense.”
Ukraine responded by calling Putin’s proposal “manipulative” and “absurd. “While the US and NATO insisted that Putin was ‘not in any position to dictate’ peace terms.
It is the third year of the conflict, and Russia currently holds around 5% of the area in Ukraine.
According to Kyiv, peace can only be predicated on Russia completely withdrawing its troops and restoring its territorial integrity.
Putin had earlier in the day declared that he had no intention of attacking the capital and that the purpose of his soldiers’ push into Kyiv two years prior had been to force Ukraine to accept a peace agreement.
Summit in Switzerland
More than 90 countries and organizations will be represented at the weekend summit in Switzerland, which is anticipated to steer clear of territorial disputes and instead concentrate on concerns including food security and nuclear safety in Ukraine.
The meeting on Saturday and Sunday is perceived as mostly a symbolic attempt by Kyiv to mobilize the international community and project strength against Russian might. It is based on components of a 10-point peace formula that Zelenskyy offered in late 2022.
Without a Russian delegation, the meeting will be “futile,” according to the Kremlin.
Indian Response to Russia-Ukraine peace process
During a meeting on June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine that “dialogue and diplomacy” are the best ways to bring about peace and that India would continue to use all of its resources to assist a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, marking an escalation in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that started in 2014. This invasion became the largest attack on a European country since World War II.
Current Situation:
-
- Russian forces have made advances north and north-east of Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine.
- They intensified attacks along the eastern front since April, although their advances have been described as minor.
- Vovchansk, located 74 km (45 miles) from Kharkiv, has been heavily bombed. While not of specific military importance, its capture would be a blow to Ukrainian morale.
- Thousands of civilians have fled towards Kharkiv, raising concerns about potential artillery-range attacks on the city.
- Russia’s actions are likely an attempt to divert Ukrainian resources away from other parts of the front line.
Implications of Ukraine joining NATO
- Membership with NATO would significantly increase Ukraine’s international military backing.As a NATO member, Ukraine would benefit from collective defense.
- Ukraine’s membership in NATO would enhance its security by aligning it with a powerful military alliance.
- Ukraine joining NATO would represent a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape. It would bring NATO’s borders closer to Russia, potentially altering the balance of power in the region.
Russian invasion of Ukraine has had devastating consequences, affecting civilians, displacing millions, and causing widespread destruction. The conflict remains ongoing, with significant implications for regional stability and international relations
Comments 1