Moscow (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Tuesday, Russia stated that Ukraine must choose whether to engage in discussions regarding a memorandum connected to a possible future peace agreement that Russia has mentioned to the US.
A day ago, President Vladimir Putin, following a conversation with US President Donald Trump, stated that Russia is prepared to collaborate with Kyiv on a memorandum regarding a future peace agreement, and that the initiatives to conclude the war in Kyiv are progressing positively.
He stated that the discussions regarding the memorandum would address the principles of a settlement, as well as the timing and definitions for a potential ceasefire, including its duration.
What does the proposed peace memorandum include?
Kremlin Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova briefed journalists that she hoped Kyiv took what she called a constructive standing in relation to possible discussions on the proposed memorandum for the sake of its own “self-preservation”.
“Now, accordingly, the ball is in Kyiv’s court,”
Zakharova informed the reporters, emphasizing that it was significant moment.
Maria Zakharova stated that following Putin’s proposal for direct peace discussions with Kyiv, Ukraine’s EU partners attempted to block the resumption of such dialogue; however, the Europeans ultimately were unsuccessful.
Additionally, regarding the newly announced EU sanctions, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stated that Moscw would never succumb to ultimatums from anyone, asserting that it was evident Europe aimed to re-arm Kyiv to prolong the conflict.
How sincere is Moscow about ending the war?
EU leaders claim that the Russian president is insincere regarding peace, expressing concerns that Trump might impose a punitive peace agreement on Kyiv. This deal could result in Ukraine losing nearly a fifth of its territory and lacking a robust security assurance against potential future assaults from Russia.
Ex-U.S. President Joe Biden, Western EU leaders and Kyiv cast Russia’s invasion as an imperial-style land grab and repeatedly promised to beat Moscow forces, which they say could one day attack NATO, a claim denied by Russia.
Russian president portrays the war as a pivotal turning point in Moscow’s ties with the West, arguing that the West humiliated Moscow following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union by expanding NATO and intruding into areas he views as within Russia’s sphere of influence, such as Kyiv.
