New Delhi: Ukraine and Russia are edging closer to a peace deal after 37 months of fighting between the two neighbours, as both have revealed their demands. The U.S. will work to expedite this deal, with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky looking to get a favourable result on their terms.
Putin has also recently weighed in publicly on the US and Ukraine’s 30-day ceasefire proposal, initially embracing it but also asking a series of questions and putting conditions on it. His suggestion to further discuss the proposal underscores his lifetime belief in addressing the underlying problems of war during a ceasefire.
Control over occupied territory is a major point of contention. Russia captured areas like Crimea and portions of Kharkiv through the course of the conflict, with Ukraine now wanting to reclaim what is its own property. However, Russia is steadfast in its refusal to relinquish these territories, maintaining that they were the results of the war.
A similarly significant theme is that of NATO membership. His demand to retract Ukraine’s application to join NATO was one of the preconditions to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming it endangers Russia. The question now is whether the US will formally exclude NATO for Ukraine or just defer it for a very long period. Not granting membership will be a blow to Zelensky; granting it could allow Putin to see himself tricked in a peace deal with Ukraine.
Regarding peacekeeping forces, France, Britain, Canada, and Germany have suggested sending some troops to Ukraine after the ceasefire to prevent Russia from launching another invasion. Putin has quashed such proposals, and the United States has not volunteered to dispatch peacekeepers. Uncertainty remains among peacekeeping troops.
A third issue is whether Putin would even sit down with Zelensky. Putin previously did not recognise Zelensky as the legitimate president of Ukraine, a view also shared by former US President Donald Trump. As the situation has been changing, one wonders whether Putin will soon change his mind and talk directly to Zelensky, without the US as mediator.
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