2023-12-24 16:51:06
2023-12-25 00:51 Compiled by Lu Silun/Comprehensive Reporting from United Daily News The New York Times interviewed U.S. and Russian officials with knowledge of the matter and revealed that Putin has successively released information regarding the peace talks through secret diplomatic channels.european news agency
The New York Times reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently stated in public that the war between Russia and Ukraine will be fought to the end. However, former Russian officials and U.S. officials familiar with the matter revealed that since at least September, the Kremlin has released information on peace talks through secret diplomatic channels. And we do not rule out a ceasefire on the current front.
U.S. officials said that in fact, as early as a year ago, in the fall of 2022, the Ukrainian army defeated the Russian army in northeastern Ukraine. At that time, Putin released a message of intention to cease fire and expressed that he was satisfied with the gains so far. territory and prepare for a truce.
Officials familiar with the matter said that Putin’s ceasefire agreement includes Ukraine maintaining its sovereignty and continuing to use Kiev as its capital, while Russia retains the 20% of occupied Ukrainian territory.
As for whether Ukraine’s joining NATO will hinder the ceasefire agreement, a former Russian official said that it will be difficult for Ukraine to join NATO in the short term, so this matter is unlikely to be a breaking factor.
However, senior US officials said that Ukraine has always insisted on regaining all its territory and there is no evidence that its leaders will accept the armistice agreement.
Putin’s repeated gestures of intentional ceasefire illustrate that opportunism and improvisation have become his approach to war. Sources and officials from various countries said in dozens of interviews that the Russia-Ukraine war has lasted longer than Putin expected, and that during this period he has tried to reduce risks and keep options open.
However, some U.S. officials also said that this may be a consistent trick of the Kremlin and not that Putin really intended to compromise. Former Russian officials also added that if the Russian army gains momentum, Putin may change his mind once more.
One of the former senior Russian officials told the New York Times, “He does intend to have a ceasefire on the current front, but he is unwilling to retreat even a little bit, even one meter.”
Current and former officials cited the stalemate in the war, the setback of the Ukrainian offensive, wavering Western support for Ukraine, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that broke out in October as reasons why Putin believes now is the time for a ceasefire.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov said, “In principle, these statements are incorrect.” When asked whether Russia was prepared to cease fire on the current front, Peskov cited Putin’s recent remarks, saying that Russia’s goals have not changed. “Putin has indeed “We have said we intend to talk, and Russia has always been prepared to negotiate, as long as we achieve Russia’s goals.”
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