President Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia intends to achieve its objectives in Ukraine through military means if a negotiated agreement is not reached. He expressed that “if common sense prevails, it will be possible to agree on an acceptable solution to end this conflict,” but warned that military solutions would be necessary otherwise.
During these remarks, Putin acknowledged the efforts of former U.S. President Donald Trump in seeking a resolution, despite Trump’s expressed disappointment regarding Russia’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine following their recent discussions in Alaska. Trump has attempted to facilitate a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, yet Putin remains noncommittal, stating, “I have never ruled out the possibility of such a meeting. But is there any point? Let’s see.” He indicated that any productive meeting would require prior preparation and suggested that Zelensky could visit Moscow, a proposition deemed unacceptable by Ukrainian officials.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has leveraged Putin’s refusal to meet to advocate for increased sanctions against Russia and enhanced defense support for Ukraine. Since launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has maintained control over parts of eastern Ukraine, notably the Donbas region, which Putin insists will not be relinquished. He reiterated his demands for Ukraine to abandon aspirations for NATO membership and to cease purported discrimination against ethnic Russians, claims that were cited as part of the rationale for the invasion.
In a geopolitical context, Putin’s statements came after attending a military parade in Beijing, alongside leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The event has been interpreted as a response to the existing global order led by the U.S.
Meanwhile, an upcoming meeting in France, presided over by President Emmanuel Macron, aims to rally support among allies for a ceasefire and immediate security guarantees for Ukraine, potentially independent of a peace agreement. Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, Putin has intensified military operations, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7dze5n1vo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss