Three points on negotiation table: Kremlin demands from Ukraine
Russia's leader Vladimir Putin (Photo: Getty Images)
Russia has noticeably narrowed its list of demands from Ukraine compared to the beginning of the large-scale war. The aggressors' blatant disregard for the peace summits initiated by Ukraine, as well as Putin's excessive territorial ambitions, have damaged Russia's positions in the world, according to the RBC-Ukraine article "Negotiations, Trump and end of war: What Zelenskyy is preparing Ukraine for and what is his plan."
"There will be three points on the table: NATO membership, territories, and money, specifically the frozen Russian assets. Our task is to secure our positions on each of these points as best as possible," said a high-ranking interlocutor at RBC-Ukraine.
According to another interlocutor in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's entourage, Russia generally wants to return to the Istanbul agreements of spring 2022 as a basis. Besides territorial claims, the Russians allegedly have not abandoned other demands on Ukraine, including curtailing the rights of the Ukrainian language in favor of Russia, reducing the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and so on. At least, they may also bargain for these points, the source believes.
"In turn, Russia could potentially agree to a ceasefire, but on the condition that it recognizes the already occupied territories. For Ukraine, this is a so-called non-starter – an inherently impossible proposal," the article states.
At the same time, RBC-Ukraine's interlocutors in the Ukrainian government and abroad agree that Russia has chosen an unfavorable stance on the peace summits, pointedly ignoring this initiative.
"Putin's outrageous demands, voiced right before the summit in Switzerland (in short: Ukraine must give up Kherson and Zaporizhzhia), also played against Moscow. The obvious impossibility of such demands is well understood by everyone, including countries of the Global South, which generally have a normal attitude toward Russia," the article notes.
Last week, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the hot phase of the war could end this year. According to him, this is possible with the unity of allies and Ukraine's plan for the peace summit.
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed Donald Trump's so-called peace plan. According to the plan, Russia withdraws to the borders as of February 24, 2022. The territory of Ukraine, controlled by Kyiv, is recognized as a free country with the prospect of rapid accession to the EU and NATO.
Following this, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Donald Trump had a phone conversation.
