- Putin Considers African and Chinese Initiatives for Ukraine Peace, Some Provisions Challenging
- Russia Receives About 30 Peace Initiatives on Ukraine, Talks with Ukraine Stall
- Saudi Arabia to Host Peace Negotiations Between Ukraine and Western Nations
Russia and Ukraine’s peace discussions have repeatedly failed. While Russia claims to be amenable to negotiations, it insists that any discussions be based on “new realities” — namely, its declared annexation of five Ukrainian provinces — a condition that Kyiv will not tolerate.
After the Africa-Russia Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian president said Moscow had not opposed peace efforts.
After the Africa-Russia Forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian president said Moscow had not opposed peace efforts.
He told reporters, “The initiative, along with others, such as the Chinese initiative, can serve as a foundation for peace-seeking processes.”
“Provisions of this peace initiative are currently being carried out… However, some items are challenging or impossible to implement.”
The offer includes a truce, but Mr. Putin said, “We cannot cease fire when we are under attack.”
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have failed since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February.
According to Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who was cited by the state-run Russian news agency TASS, Russia has received approximately 30 peace initiatives on Ukraine through official and unofficial channels.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says peace negotiations with Russia are only feasible if Russian forces leave occupied area.
An initiative from Africa calls for negotiations
Last month, Russia received a 10-point African Peace Initiative calling for dialogue, state autonomy, and security for all nations.
According to Reuters, the plan proposes a series of potential measures to defuse the conflict, including a Russian troop withdrawal, the removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, the suspension of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin, and the easing of sanctions.
China’s 12-point peace programme calls for a ceasefire but does not denounce the invasion or require Russia to withdraw.
In May, Beijing sent a top ambassador to Kyiv and Moscow to encourage peace talks.
While Russia has stated in the past that it is open to peace talks with Kyiv, it insists that any negotiations be founded on “new realities” – its declared annexation of five Ukrainian provinces that it controls in whole or in part – a condition that Kyiv will not accept.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia will host Ukraine-Western peace talks at the start of next month.
