Negotiations with Ukraine are only founded on the current circumstances, according to Putin.
Over two years have passed since Russian President Vladimir Putin initiated hostilities against Ukraine, and now he's reigniting the notion of significant dialogue. However, his conditions for these conversations are conflicting; he refuses to relinquish territories that have blatantly been seized in contravention of international statutes. "Discussions are brought up again," Putin stated during a recent visit to Belarus, according to Interfax news agency. "Let's go back to them. But not on the grounds of one side's wishes, but rather from the viewpoint of the current circumstances that have emerged on the ground."
Russia has been openly engaging in full-scale warfare with Ukraine since February 2022, occupying roughly 20% of its neighboring country. Ukraine frequently underlines that the removal of Russian soldiers from their lands is a prerequisite for long-lasting tranquility.
During his sojourn to Belarus, Putin also maintained that Volodymyr Zelensky wasn't the legitimate leader of Ukraine anymore. "We're aware that the legitimacy of the current government official has lapsed," he declared.
The rationale behind this allegation is that Zelensky's five-year tenure should have concluded last Monday. However, due to the ongoing war, martial law has been imposed in Ukraine for more than two years, a situation that, according to the Ukrainian constitution, means he'll keep his position until new elections can be organized. Days earlier, during a visit to Kiev, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reaffirmed that Zelensky was still deemed to be lawfully in office. She defended him against the underhand tactics of Russian propaganda.
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- Despite Putin's call for negotiations regarding Ukraine, his refusal to relinquish seized territories raises concerns about true readiness for a peaceful resolution, given the realities of international law.
- The floor for Ukraine negotiations, as per Putin, is conditioned on the current circumstances, a stance that starkly contrasts with Ukraine's prerequisite for the withdrawal of Russian forces prior to any sustained tranquility.
- Despite Putin's claim that Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency is no longer legitimate due to his supposedly expired term, the Ukrainian constitution allows him to maintain his position due to the imposition of martial law, thereby complicating any negotiations involving both parties.
Source: www.ntv.de
