Ukraine must not see Russian terms: signal on unreasonable requirements
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claims that the country’s conditions for peace in Ukraine are ready for a possible new round of negotiations. On Wednesday, Russia announced that they have proposed direct conversations with Ukraine on Monday next week and that the meeting will be held in Turkish Istanbul just as last.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov required to see the Russian conditions For a second meeting to get rid of – something that Russia has not agreed to. Kreml’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says, according to the state news agency Tass, that Russia does not discuss content in agreements to be shared with another party.
– The reason for this is that conversations should always be held behind closed doors, rather than in public, says Peskov.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry In a statement on Thursday afternoon states that Russia has not shared the requirements list is a signal that it contains « unreasonable ultimatum ».
Three Russian sources with transparency in the negotiations state to the Reuters news agency that Russia, just as before, requires « Ukrainian neutrality » and a protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine, something that is not described in more detail.
Russia also seems to have several requirements for allies to Ukraine. Among other things, Putin wants NATO to put on print that the Alliance should not expand east, a requirement Kremlin previously expressed. Moscow also requires relieved sanctions against Russian authorities and citizens, and frozen Russian assets in the West are made available.
The Kremlin and the White House have previously made proposals to « freeze the front line » which in practice would give Russia control over the four regions in eastern and southeastern Ukraine that the country is now largely controlling.
According to Ukraine have 50,000 Russian soldiers gathered in the course regionat the border with the Ukrainian region Sumy, an oblast in the north that Russia today does not occupy. Something that can be preparation for an extended ground invasion – which the think tank Isw It is true that Putin would not settle for the four regions, which are now largely occupied by Russian forces.
Johan Huovinen, a teacher at the Swedish Defense College, told DN on Wednesday that the Russian squad building at the border can be a way to try to put pressure on Ukraine for any peace negotiations. Or that Russia wants to create a buffer zone in Ukraine, something the Kremlin previously expressed plans.
