- Russia’s struggle in Ukraine has lasted longer than President Vladimir Putin anticipated.
- Putin has thought-about a cease-fire for the reason that early weeks of Russia’s invasion, NYT reported.
- He renewed that curiosity however solely underneath the situation that Russia might keep seized territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin privately mentioned he is open to peace talks with Ukraine a number of instances for the reason that early weeks of the invasion, The New York Occasions reported. However some Western officers informed the Occasions that they continue to be skeptical.
One of many earliest cases got here weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which was rapidly seen as a botched navy marketing campaign as Ukrainian resistance proved to be extra resilient than anticipated, the Occasions reported. However talks of a cease-fire fell by way of after Russia’s brutal acts towards civilians and troopers in Ukraine, in keeping with the report.
Within the fall of 2022, Putin explored peace talks once more after Russian forces retreated from Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv area in September, US officers informed the Occasions. Nevertheless, prime US officers mentioned it was too quickly for talks, and the cease-fire was underneath the situation that Russia might hold the practically 20% of Ukrainian territory that has been occupied.
Extra lately, Putin has proven renewed curiosity in a cease-fire because the struggle approaches its two-year mark, and vital progress on the entrance line — on both aspect — stays to be seen.
Two former senior Russian officers near the Kremlin, together with US and worldwide officers who’ve obtained the message about Putin’s curiosity in peace talks, informed the Occasions that the Russian chief has signaled that curiosity since not less than September with the identical situations outlined final 12 months within the fall.
“He actually is prepared to cease on the present positions,” one of many former Russian officers informed the Occasions. “He is not prepared to retreat one meter.”
US officers additionally informed the newspaper that the armistice would hold Ukraine as a sovereign nation, together with Kyiv as its capital, whereas Russia maintains management of the occupied territory.
However it’s unclear if Ukraine would settle for a cease-fire underneath such situations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly vowed to reclaim all territory seized by Russia, and prime US officers informed the Occasions that they do not see any influential Ukrainian politician agreeing to these phrases.
However US and Western officers stay doubtful.
“They by no means honored any agreements,” Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics informed the Occasions, “and so they have violated them instantly once they noticed it was handy.”
Putin’s quiet curiosity in peace talks by way of back-channel communications markedly opposes the message the Russian chief sends to the general public.
On December 14, in his first information convention that allowed attendance from Western media for the reason that February invasion, Putin mentioned that Russia’s objectives stay the identical and that there can be no cease-fire till they’re achieved.
“There might be peace after we will obtain our objectives,” Putin mentioned, in keeping with The Related Press. “Victory might be ours.”
