Sayonara, Moscow! Witkoff's Stealthy Exit Sparks Putin Rumble on Ceasefire Proposal
Uncertain anticipation over Putin's reaction to truce initiative
Insights: This situation unfolds as the USA and Ukraine unite, presenting a proposal for a temporary truce between Kyiv and Moscow. The US envoy, Steve Witkoff, heads to Moscow, meeting with Putin, and a follow-up meeting appears imminent.
However, Putin seems to be treading carefully, imposing numerous conditions before agreeing to a ceasefire, seemingly aiming to prolong negotiations. Intriguingly, the Russian opposition newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" hints at Putin's supposed strategy of responding favorably to the ceasefire proposal while setting "unacceptable conditions" that Ukraine may not agree to.
Witkoff's Furtive Nights in Moscow
As the sun sets on Moscow, whispers circulate around the sly disappearance of US envoy, Steve Witkoff, under the cover of night. Although rumors swirl, no confirmation of a Thursday evening meeting between Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin has surfaced.
Witkoff made his way to Moscow in the afternoon on Thursday, dispatched by President Donald Trump to present the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukrainian war, according to the White House. Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, teased a meeting with the Kremlin leader, although it would not be a public spectacle.
Politics: Dancing with Devils or Making Peace?
Putin himself weighed in on the US ceasefire proposal prior to the press, elbowing in numerous conditions for a potential Moscow agreement. The conditions ultimately mirrored Putin's maximum demands on Ukraine, leaving Ukrainian President Selenskyj to contend that Putin did not openly tell Trump that he wished to continue the war.
Putin's Tactical Time-Out
Experts at the US think tank "Institute for the Study of War" (ISW) claim that Putin previously expressed reservations about a temporary ceasefire, favoring a solution that would bring about long-lasting peace and address the underlying causes of the war.
According to insiders reporting to "Bloomberg", Putin is allegedly attempting to extend the timeline for reaching an agreement on a temporary ceasefire to ensure his conditions are discussed. Furthermore, Putin's soldiers are said to be progressing on multiple fronts, establishing more favorable military positions before agreeing to a ceasefire.
The ISW reports that Putin seeks a halt to all weapons deliveries to Ukraine as a precondition for agreeing to the ceasefire.
Politics: Putin's Yes...But Game
The Russian opposition newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" takes things a step further, revealing that a source close to the presidential administration hinted that the Kremlin would give formal consent to the temporary ceasefire proposal, but would also introduce "unacceptable conditions" that Ukraine could not agree to. The source also suggested that Putin aims to exclude Ukraine from the talks so that Russia can negotiate alone with the United States.
Moreover, the source indicated that Putin wanted to manipulate the situation on the front lines to fortify Russia's bargaining position. Experts at the ISW perceive some congruency between Putin's statements and these claims, though it is also plausible that these Russian insider statements are part of Russia's negotiation strategy.
The USA and Ukraine's Peace Overture
The USA-Ukrainian proposal for a ceasefire encompasses a renewable 30-day suspension of hostilities along the entire front line, a moratorium on long-range missile and drone attacks, and the cessation of operations in the Black Sea. The plan includes the possibility for Russia and Ukraine to extend the ceasefire and assumes the continuation of the exchange of U.S. intelligence information and American and other military support for Ukraine.
The USA-Ukrainian proposal proposed giving Russia and Ukraine the chance to demonstrate their commitment to peace, divorcing the temporary ceasefire from future negotiations to end the war.
Source: ntv.de, as
- The Commission, given the ongoing discussions about the draft resolution on the European Union's role in the Middle East peace process, may be consulted on the interpretation of the ceasefire conditions sent in the US-Ukrainian proposal to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the peace overture.
- In light of Steve Witkoff's stealthy exit from Moscow and the impending Putin-Witkoff meeting, it would be interesting to examine Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal, considering recent rumors suggest he may set unacceptable conditions to prolong the negotiations.
- Amidst the ongoing debate about Putin's intentions, the cessation of weapons deliveries to Ukraine remains a precondition for the temporary ceasefire as suggested by the Institute for the Study of War, potentially making negotiations complicated for the US and Ukraine in their pursuit of long-lasting peace.
