Unveiling Russia's Demands in the Russia-Ukraine Memorandum
Russia's Demands Towards Ukraine Unveiled
Get the lowdown on Russia's demands for a ceasefire and potential future peace treaty with Ukraine. Here's what Moscow's catalog entails: Russia is firm on its maximalist demands.
In a historic move, Russia has published its memorandum detailing its demands towards Ukraine for a truce and a possible peace agreement. During the second round of talks in Istanbul, Russia's representatives passed the three-page document to Ukraine, with Kyiv announcing plans to scrutinize it. Russian media later disclosed the demands. With this memorandum, the Kremlin remains steadfast in its maximalist demands, essentially calling for Kyiv's submission.
Conditions for a Temporary Truce
Russia proposes two variants for a 30-day ceasefire:
- Complete Withdrawal: This first variant necessitates the complete removal of Ukrainian troops from areas under Ukrainian control in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, which currently experience partial Russian control.
Currently, Russian forces govern the majority of the Luhansk region, around 70% of the Donetsk region, and around two-thirds of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. The population centers of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, with their substantial inhabitants, remain under Ukrainian control.
- Limited Ceasefire: The second variant, on the other hand, suggests a halt to hostilities along the current frontline. Kyiv must halt mobilization and refuse to accept any more foreign weapons or intel support. This ceasefire would be monitored by a yet-to-be-established joint center.
The ceasefire would also demand that Ukraine guarantees a pause in sabotage operations in Russia, lifts martial law, schedules elections within 100 days, and ceases receiving foreign military assistance. Previously, Ukraine had demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Moscow as the prerequisite for meaningful peace talks to commence.
Requirements for a Durable Peace
For a peace treaty, Russia seeks the following from Ukraine:
- Territorial Recognition: International acknowledgment that Crimea, along with Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, are constituent parts of the Russian Federation.
- Neutrality and Non-alignment: A commitment from Ukraine to remain neutral and refrain from joining military alliances or coalitions, terminate existing security agreements, and ban future foreign military deployments.
The subsequent points deal with a confirmation of the nuclear-weapon-free status of Ukraine, limits on the number of Ukrainian soldiers, the dissolution of nationalist military units, and Ukraine's relinquishment of any claims to reparations.
For a lasting resolution to the conflict, Moscow requires Kyiv to:
- Protect the rights of Russian and Russian-speaking populations
- Recognize Russian as an official language
- Lift all sanctions and reestablish diplomatic relations
- Resume gas transit through Ukraine to Europe
A peace treaty, as per the declaration of intent, should be validated after signing by a legally binding United Nations resolution.
In lieu of the Russia-Ukraine memorandum, Russia demands that as part of a peaceful resolution, Ukraine recognize Crimea, along with Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, as constituent parts of the Russian Federation, and commit to remain neutral and refrain from joining military alliances or coalitions. Additionally, in the context of community policy and politics, Russia proposes specific policies related to employment, as the conditions for a temporary truce include a halt to mobilization and a refusal to accept foreign weapons or intel support, which could be interpreted as part of an employment policy.
