Vladimir Putin is not interested in a ceasefire and sticks to his military goals
Vladimir Putin has no serious interest in a ceasefire or negotiations with Ukraine and the West, says Saturday the Institute for War Studies (ISW). Statements by the Russian President, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may have caused people to think differently.
After US President Joe Biden agreed to speak with Mr Putin on Thursday, Mr Peskov was quick to point out that the Western terms of negotiations – the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine – were not possible. Their refusal to recognize the illegal annexation of occupied Ukrainian lands in September also complicates the search for common ground, the spokesman added.
But according to ISW, Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric on several occasions showed that he had no real intention to negotiate and that his goals remained mainly military in nature. Statements on the terms of the discussion are probably only intended to get the West to make concessions and convince it that Moscow would then return to the negotiating table.
These conditions were repeatedly stated: reduction of military aid to Ukraine, recognition of the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories and reduction of NATO military activities on Russia’s borders. but the Kremlin remains vague about these possible negotiations in order to urge the West to talks without defining the ultimate goal, which is a ceasefire, a peace process or a peace agreement, according to the ISW.
But Moscow would benefit from a ceasefire, the American think tank says. In particular, this would allow him to strengthen his army, which has been badly hit since the invasion of Ukraine began in late February. But Mr. Putin is not interested in a cessation of hostilities and, on the contrary, the West does not seem ready to grant anything to Moscow. “The idea that Vladimir Putin will ever defeat Ukraine is unbelievable,” said Joe Biden.