Russia's ambassador to the UK asserts that Ukraine must yield to Moscow's conditions or face surrender.
Tough Talk from Russia's Ambassador:
Ukraine better swallow Moscow's demands for a ceasefire or face a continued offensive and possible defeat, according to Andrei Kelin, Russia's ambassador to the UK. In a chat with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Kelin revealed that Russia is stepping up its offensive and sees no reason to halt the hostilities, disregarding U.S.-backed peace efforts.
The fierce remarks come as Russia continues to reject a U.S.-proposed truce and intensifies both ground operations and air strikes against Ukrainian cities. "We're on the offensive, and Ukraine is in retreat," Kelin declared. He added that Russia has gained over 230 square miles of Ukrainian territory in May, a claim questioned by open-source intelligence group DeepState.
Kelin presented an ultimatum to Kyiv: either agree to a permanent ceasefire on Russia's terms or brace for worse consequences. "Ukraine has a choice: either adopt our conditions or face a tougher situation," he stated.
In the latest peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2, Russia reiterated its maximalist demands, including recognition of its annexation of Crimea, as well as four Ukrainian provinces that it does not fully control yet.
The Kremlin demands Ukraine's complete withdrawal from these regions. The discussions are scheduled to continue after June 22, with a focus on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues.
Kelin reaffirmed the Kremlin's demands for Ukraine's neutrality, a ban on NATO membership, and the restoration of human rights for ethnic minorities in Ukraine. Ukraine and Western officials have frequently contested these claims as a sham pretext for the invasion.
CNN's host challenged Kelin on whether such terms amounted to capitulation rather than negotiation. Kelin countered, suggesting important agreements were being reached. When asked about Russia's capacity to sustain its military campaign, Kelin boasted that only 5-7% of the budget was being spent and that 60,000 volunteer soldiers were being recruited monthly. These figures have not been independently verified by Western analysts.
In the broader context, the conflict remains unresolved with neither side making a decisive breakthrough, making a formal ceasefire or peace deal unlikely under current goals and ideological wrangling. Experts estimate the probability of a South Korea-style armistice to be around 15%.
Insights:
- Russia's current demands prioritize international recognition of its territorial gains in Ukraine, removal of sanctions, and rejection of war reparations, hampering a prompt ceasefire or peace settlement.
- Negotiations may involve both sides acknowledging the de facto control of contested territories without Ukraine formally relinquishing its claim to its 1991 borders or Russia renouncing its annexations. The ultimate status of these territories might be deferred and determined later through negotiated formulas or local referenda under international supervision.
War-and-conflicts continue to dominate the general-news landscape as the ongoing dispute between Russia and Ukraine persists. Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, hasasserted that Russia is demands a permanent ceasefire on its terms, implying that the politics surrounding this conflict are far from resolved.
