MOSCOW: Ukraine should “reflect” on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call to withdraw its forces from the east and south of the country to open peace talks as its military situation is worsening, the Kremlin said on Sunday.
“The current dynamic of the situation at the front shows us clearly that it is continuing to worsen for the Ukrainians,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Sunday. This statement comes as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and international leaders convened in Burgenstock, Switzerland, to discuss potential pathways to ending the conflict.
Peskov suggested that a prudent politician, prioritizing national interests over personal or external pressures, should consider Putin’s proposal. “It is probable that a politician who puts the interests of his country above his own and those of his masters would reflect on such a proposal,” Peskov said.
However, President Zelensky and other world leaders have promptly rejected Putin’s demands. These demands include Ukraine pulling its troops out of contested regions and abandoning its bid for NATO membership as conditions for Moscow to halt its military offensive.
Peskov emphasized that Putin’s proposal should not be seen as an ultimatum but rather as “a peace initiative that takes into account the realities on the ground.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky has promised to present peace proposals once they have the support of the international community, which is being sought during the ongoing discussions in Switzerland. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited to these talks.
The conflict, which has persisted for more than two years, has seen significant international involvement, with various countries providing support to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.
