Kremlin seeks to delegitimize Ukraine in eyes of Western countries - ISW
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya (photo: Getty Images)
The Kremlin is reverting to Vladimir Putin's previous demands and information operations aimed at undermining the legitimacy of Ukraine's leadership before Western countries. The campaign has intensified ahead of the Russia-US meeting in Saudi Arabia, according to a report by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
It is noted that during the United Nations Security Council meeting on February 17, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, reiterated Putin's demand that Ukraine hold elections before implementing any peace agreements. In this way, the Russian diplomat continues the Kremlin's efforts to falsely delegitimize the current Ukrainian government.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and former Verkhovna Rada deputy Viktor Medvedchuk also recently repeated the Kremlin's false claims that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is illegitimate. According to ISW, this indicates that Russia has no obligation to honor agreements made with the current Ukrainian government.
"The Kremlin's apparent unwillingness to make territorial concessions, commit to honoring any future peace agreement with Ukraine, or involve any European leaders in these negotiations calls into question Putin's supposed willingness to engage in good faith negotiations that could bring about long-term peace in Ukraine and Europe more broadly," the Institute for the Study of War concludes.
Meeting between the US and Russia in Saudi Arabia
On February 18, a meeting will take place in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) between high-ranking US and Russian officials. The main topic of the talks will be the potential end of the Ukraine-Russia war. Ukrainian representatives were not invited to this meeting.
According to US officials, the Trump administration plans to first hold a meeting with Russia and then with Ukraine. After both meetings, a joint round involving the US, Ukraine, and Russia will be held.
Official Kyiv does not recognize the results of such talks, as the Ukrainian side will not participate.
The Kremlin stated that Russia and the US plan to coordinate positions in preparation for negotiations regarding Ukraine.
The US State Department clarified that the bilateral meeting in Riyadh does not mark the beginning of peace talks on Ukraine.
