Yesterday at 20:06
Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to introduce a new demand into the discussion on the war settlement, which is in line with the Kremlin’s long-standing efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government and disrupt a possible peace agreement.
That’s according to an assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank, Ukrinform reports.
“Putin’s new demand for an interim government in Ukraine as a precondition for peace negotiations demonstrates how the Kremlin continues to hold negotiations hostage and is attempting to extract additional concessions from the West following the progress made in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations,” the report says.
According to ISW, the Kremlin remains committed to its goal to prolong any negotiations for a temporary frontline ceasefire or permanent peace agreement in order to continue making incremental gains on the battlefield and establish favorable conditions to pursue Ukraine’s complete capitulation.
ISW notes that the Kremlin leader reiterated his demand to eliminate the “root causes” of the war in Ukraine as a prerequisite for a peace deal.
This is a reference to Russia’s initial military demands, which directly contradict the efforts being made by Ukraine, the United States, and Europe to achieve a just and lasting settlement.
“Putin is attempting to inject a new demand aligned with the Kremlin’s long-standing efforts to undermine the Ukrainian government’s legitimacy into discussions about the resolution of the war,” the report says.
ISW analysts believe these efforts by the Kremlin raise serious doubts about Russia’s readiness to negotiate in good faith and create conditions for Russia to violate the agreements reached on the grounds that the Ukrainian government allegedly had no legal right to conclude them.
As reported, Vladimir Putin previously proposed to negotiate the introduction of external “interim administration in Ukraine” under the UN auspices.
In response to Putin’s comments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine proposed that an interim UN-led administration be set up in Russia.
