Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council and Chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev, has said that Moscow will only negotiate with Kyiv if they recognise the “realities on the ground.”
Vladimir Putin’s key ally said, “We are ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine, but only if Kiev acknowledges the realities on the ground and the proposals outlined by Putin during his speech at the Foreign Ministry this year.”
This simply means that Putin will start negotiations if Kyiv accepts the territory occupied by Russia remains part of the Russian Federation and that Ukraine must not join NATO.
On 14 June 2024 Putin said there has to be the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from Donbass and Novorossiya and that they refuse to join the alliance.
Russia also wants all Western sanctions against the country lifted and that Kyiv must align themselves to commit to being a non-nuclear state and all Russian interest and freedoms of the Russian speaking people who live in the country must be ensured also.
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Ukraine has said that they are not yet ready for negotiations with Russia to end the war, as there is a shortage of weapons in Russia.
President’s Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said in an interview with the Karpyak on Suspilne project said there is no clear guarantees that Putin will not attack again in two or three years.
Yermak added, “That is why we are talking to our partners today about why it is so important to strengthen Ukraine.
“In general, we need to break the Russian narrative that Ukraine wanted war. Ukraine did not want it and did not provoke Russia in any way. Russia did not come here to protect anyone, because it does not even protect its own territory.
“It is important for Putin to continue the aggression on our territory. Therefore, in order to start negotiations, Ukraine must be strong, and then it will be able to talk to Russia on equal terms.”
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has said that negotiations with Ukraine is meaningless.
The Russian diplomat said, “The possibility of negotiations cannot be equated with the lifting of Kiev’s self-imposed prohibition on such talks.
“The absurdity of discussing potential negotiations, while they are formally banned, should be obvious to everyone – except, it seems, to those determining Kiev’s policies.”
“I’m referring not only to the authorities in Ukraine but also to those located thousands of kilometres away who are heavily involved in shaping Kiev’s political agenda,” he added.
“Once all of these players understand the need to address the most pressing priorities first, perhaps then such discussions can merit attention. But that moment has yet to come.”
