Putin repeats demands for ceasefire, Ukraine calls proposal absurd

In a speech, President Putin reiterated Russia’s demands for a direct ceasefire with Ukraine. He also states that Russia is open to “peace negotiations”. Kyiv dismissed the proposal as nonsense, a repetition of moves and manipulation.

Putin’s speech was a summary of the demands that Russia has been making for about two years. He wants the Ukrainian army to withdraw from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. As far as Putin is concerned, NATO membership is out of the question for Ukraine and Kyiv must also recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea.

The ultimatum also includes a renewed demand to lift Western sanctions against Russia.

‘This is not a peace proposal’

The list is the exact opposite of the Ukrainian commitment in the war against the Russian invasion force. “It is not a peace proposal,” responds an adviser to President Zelensky. “Russia no longer wishes to pay for this war and to continue it in any other way.”

Putin’s latest ultimatum did not come out of the blue. This weekend, dozens of world leaders will meet in Switzerland to discuss the Ukrainian president’s peace proposal.

Russia is not invited and dismisses the Ukrainian plans as a “diversion”. Putin is probably now trying to take the wind out of Ukraine’s sails by claiming that Russia is still open to diplomacy.

Hundreds of thousands dead

The Russian invasion has now claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Almost every day, civilians in Ukraine are startled by missile and drone attacks. In recent months, Ukraine has been steadily losing ground in the east of the country. According to Ukraine and the West, Russia is suffering heavy losses.

While Moscow appears to have an advantage in the short term, this is uncertain in the long term. The gas company Gazprom, which is important to the state treasury, is in dire straits. Kyiv has a shortage of troops, but receives tens of billions in weapons and ammunition from the US and Europe. Ukraine has also taken a number of measures to restore the number of soldiers.

Negotiations in 2022

At the beginning of the war, the two warring parties sat down together. But negotiations for a ceasefire soon broke down. Ukraine continues to insist that Russian occupiers, who started the war, must leave the entire country, including Crimea.

The Russian leader “is not in a position to dictate to Ukraine what it must do for peace,” US Defense Secretary Austin said today. The US recently signed a ten-year security pact with Ukraine.

Leaders of the G7 decided yesterday to give Ukraine a loan of $50 billion. The interest on Russian frozen assets is used as collateral for this. The money is intended to secure long-term support for Ukraine.