Bargaining with Kyiv Once More: Moscow Stands Firm on Annexed Regions
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Moscow maintains assertion of territorial control over annexed regions, indicating potential dialogue with Kiev - Potential Dialogue with Kiev: Moscow Affirms Continued Claim Over Annexed Regions
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has reaffirmed Moscow's stance on the international acceptance of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as Russian territories, according to his ministry's recent interview with the Brazilian outlet "O Globo." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, has proposed that Russia could initiate talks with Ukraine without preconditions.
In 2014, Russia seized control of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, an action that Ukraine considers an unlawful land grab and is considered illegal by its European allies. The subsequent annexation of Ukrainian territories in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia took place in September 2022, with Moscow's claims being firmly disputed by Ukraine.
Reports suggest that a ceasefire plan proposed by the United States may satisfy numerous Russian demands. This plan could potentially endorse Russia's assertions of control over the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions and Crimea itself.
As the US president underscores, Kyiv might agree to surrender Crimea as part of a peace agreement. When asked if Zelensky would be willing to give up Crimea, Trump replied affirmatively on Sunday, but Zelensky has consistently rejected this idea.
Trump and Zelensky held a brief meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, with Trump describing their encounter as "nice" despite strained relations following a heated exchange in February at the White House.
Trump, who previously asserted that the Ukrainian conflict could be resolved within 24 hours of his presidency, has continued his diplomatic efforts to bring a halt to the fighting and draw closer to Russia's positions, causing concern among Ukraine and its European allies. However, recent signs of impatience from the US president towards the Kremlin chief have emerged.
During a recent interview, Trump shared his expectations for Putin, stating he hoped the Russian leader would end the conflict, engage in negotiations, and sign a peace agreement. If no progress is made quickly, the White House may abandon its mediation role, with the US President indicating a two-week window for resolution. The coming days could prove crucial as efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine enter a potentially decisive phase.
Over the weekend, Russia acknowledged North Korea's involvement in the fighting around Kursk and claimed the region's entirety had been recaptured. The Ukrainian military, however, maintains its presence in Kursk, contrary to Russia's reports.
On Monday, Putin lauded the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Kursk as a "heroic act," despite the accusations of thousands of North Korean soldiers being dispatched to Russia last year by South Korean and Western intelligence services.
Keywords:
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Kyiv
- Crimea
- Negotiation
- Donald Trump
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- US President
- Sergei Lavrov
- Luhansk
- Sunday
- Kremlin
- Moscow
- USA
- Annexation
- Donetsk People's Republic
- Donezk
- White House
- O Globo
- Dmitri Peskov
Additional Insights:
- Russia's Demands: Beyond seeking Ukrainian withdrawal from occupied territories, Russia is also pushing for Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions, a demand firmly rejected by Ukraine and its Western partners.
- Ukraine's Position: Kyiv advocates for a 30-day ceasefire with robust monitoring mechanisms and refuses to recognize the annexed territories, opting instead to pursue their liberation.
- Current Dynamics: Despite Russia proposing unilateral ceasefires, Ukraine remains adamant about achieving a longer-term agreement with monitoring mechanisms in place. Tensions have escalated, with Russian officials casting doubt on Kyiv's ability to adhere to a ceasefire and portraying its government as illegitimate. This narrative warfare could potentially undermine future agreements and negotiations.
- Crimea's Status: Despite the territorial demands in the other occupied regions, Russia has not explicitly mentioned Crimea in recent negotiations, though its reported position on Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, remains unchanged: no negotiations over its status.
- The European Union, committed to a common foreign and security policy, has not agreed to recognize Crimea as Russian territory, viewing the 2014 annexation as unlawful.
- In the 2022 negotiations, Ukraine has maintained its position that it will not discuss or recognize Crimea as Russian land, with a focus on pursuing its liberation.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has consistently rejected the idea of surrendering Crimea during peace talks, even when proposed by former US President Donald Trump.
- In the recent "O Globo" interview, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's stance on Crimea, but Dmitry Peskov proposed initiating talks with Ukraine without preconditions, excluding discussions about Crimea.
