Well, Vladimir Putin’s done it again. He claims that any negotiations for peace with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would need to occur in Moscow. The Russian leader’s comments came during a news conference in Beijing, where he was meeting with global leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All of these demands have fueled criticism and doubt about the seriousness of Russia’s desire to negotiate peace.
At a news conference Wednesday, Putin seemed to welcome the possibility that the conflict could be resolved peacefully. He promised that if “common sense prevails,” there would be a “certain light at the end of the tunnel.” His demand, or insistence, that talks be held in Moscow is curious. Making the siting sitting fly almost everyone sees this as yet another sign of Putin’s love for floatin’ what they deem to be outrageous proposals.
Andriy Sybiga, a representative for Ukraine, stated, “These are serious proposals, and President Zelenskyy is ready for such a meeting at any time. Putin continues to mess around with everyone by making knowingly unacceptable proposals.”
Putin’s comments are particularly incendiary at a moment when the prospects for peace in Ukraine are falling off a cliff. This coincides with a marked increase in his violent military provocations. Media reports show more than 500 drones and two dozen missiles flying at civilian targets throughout Ukraine. The greatest impact of these attacks has been on civilian populations in western and central areas, with 1,800 reported civilian casualties, often including women and children. Just last weekend in Kostyantynivka, nine civilians were killed and seven more wounded. Artillery shells, in particular, killed eight people between the ages of 44 and 74.
The picture becomes further complicated. Putin’s military has already come under fire for alleged use of FPV drones to intentionally target civilian vehicles in Ukraine, drawing heavy international condemnation from observers worldwide. Ongoing violence serves not only as a reminder of the growing cold reality for most Ukrainians—with military operations continuing without end—but the capriciousness of war.
This is what Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, termed a “tectonic shift”. She continued to condemn how Russia’s war has escalated the violence and murders in Ukraine. She went on to emphasize that Russia doesn’t operate alone and to focus on the indispensable support Russia is receiving from its partners. “China provides Russia with up to 80% of dual-use imports,” Kallas stated, indicating the significant reliance of Russia on external resources.
The game-changing leaders like Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un have further complicated the international diplomacy scene. Putin’s shadow casts a long influence on the combination. It’s their support that could truly bolster Russia’s military ambitions. This has serious implications for Western countries’ security in the region.
As the war continues, and despite growing public frustration, Zelenskyy’s government is understandably hesitant but willing to engage. They have repeatedly called for negotiations based on mutual respect and good faith proposals. They would like to abjure asks that sound designed to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty.