Moscow rejects peace summit with Ukraine
Should only talks be held with Russia to achieve peace? Now it seems that Ukraine is not against talks and is aiming for a peace summit soon, even with Russian participation. Moscow's response comes promptly and is clear.
Russia also will not participate in another peace summit with Ukraine. Deputies Foreign Minister Mikhail Galusin stated this to the state Russian news agency RIA Novosti. "We are aware of the intentions of the Kiev regime and its Western curators to 'rehabilitate' the failed 'peace summit' at Burgenstock in Switzerland in mid-June of this year and to hold a similar event. They are even thinking about inviting Russia," he said, adding that "we reject such ultimatums and will not attend such 'summits'."
According to the agency Bloomberg, Ukraine is aiming for a second peace summit before the US elections this year. At this meeting, Russia should participate, which was not invited to the summit in mid-June in Switzerland. However, Moscow had signaled repeatedly beforehand that it would reject participation.
Apparently, Galusin also sees no sense in peace talks with Ukraine now. Kiev wants only "to impose the absolutely fixed and ultimate 'Zelenskyy Formula,'" he said, and other initiatives to resolve the "Ukraine crisis," as Galusin calls the war, should be ignored. "We accept no such ultimatums and will not attend such 'summits'."
The so-called formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky includes, among other things, the restoration of the territorial integrity of the country. This contradicts the solutions proposed by Moscow - which would lead to a dictated peace. According to the Kremlin, Kiev should withdraw all its troops from the regions annexed by Russia: Donbass, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukraine should also renounce NATO membership.
ISW: Putin demands "surrender of Ukraine"
The Institute for the Study of War does not believe that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is genuinely interested in negotiations: The analysts of US think tanks recently reported that Putin is demanding "the surrender of Ukraine through 'demilitarization' and the transfer of significant territories that Russia currently does not occupy." Putin also rejected a ceasefire in the conflict for two consecutive days.
The daily Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians also cast doubt on the notion of a genuine peace intention in Moscow. On Monday alone, more than 40 people were killed and over 100 were injured in Ukraine. A children's hospital in Kiev was also attacked and severely damaged.
For the hardliners in Moscow, peace in Ukraine is also not an option: Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Security Council and a former president, wrote on Telegram that Russia would continue its war against Ukraine, even if Ukraine agreed to Moscow's peace conditions. Concretely, Medvedev writes that even if the papers were signed and "the defeat is accepted" - for which he seems to be predicting a government change in Kiev - the "remaining radicals, after regrouping their forces, will come to power earlier or later." That would be the time for Russia "to finally crush the beast." As "radicals," the Russian leadership sees the hated pro-Western Zelensky regime and its supporters.
Moreover, Medvedev speaks in this context about returning the remaining Ukrainian territories "into the embrace of the Russian land." In other words: Russia must conquer and place all of Ukraine under Russian rule, not just the four regions already illegally annexed in the east.
- Despite Ukraine's pursuit of a second peace summit with Russia before the US elections, Moscow has consistently rejected participating, citing unwarranted ultimatums and the push for the 'Zelenskyy Formula'.
- The 'Zelenskyy Formula', as proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity, which contradicts Moscow's demands for Kiev's withdrawal from annexed regions and renunciation of NATO membership.
- The Institute for the Study of War suggests that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin is not sincere about negotiations, instead demanding 'the surrender of Ukraine' through demilitarization and the transfer of significant territories.
- Even as the hardliners in Moscow like Dmitry Medvedev maintain that Russia will continue its war against Ukraine, even if Ukraine accepts Moscow's peace conditions, alleging that pro-Western supporters will regroup, there are daily Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians, raising questions about Russia's commitment to peace talks.
