Russian President Vladimir Putin has presented Ukraine with a 12-point ceasefire plan, which includes demands for Ukraine to surrender its sovereignty and accept Russian control over Crimea and eastern territories. The memo, published by the Russian state news agency Tass, is seen as a non-negotiable list of conditions that Ukraine must meet in order to achieve peace.
The plan calls for Ukraine to downsize its army, recognize Russian as an official language, and ban the glorification or promotion of Nazism. It also demands that Ukraine withdraw from vast swaths of territory and fulfill a list of Russian-set conditions.
Experts say that Russia’s position is unlikely to change until it achieves significant concessions on the battlefield, economically, and diplomatically. “Russia does not negotiate — except the terms of its opposition’s surrender,” said James Nixey, a London-based consultant specializing on Russia and the former Soviet republics.
The memorandum codifies what Putin has been saying all along – that the “root causes” of the war are NATO’s eastward expansion and fomenting Nazism in Ukraine. Analysts predict that Ukraine will reject these demands, leading to more violence and a prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian air bases was seen as an attempt to draw a response from Moscow. The country has also launched another operation against the Crimean Bridge, detonating 2,500 pounds of underwater explosives.
The situation remains tense, with both sides diametrically opposed. President Donald Trump’s involvement could prove pivotal, as he considers whether to walk away from the conflict or push for a breakthrough.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia/putins-demands-ukraine-underscore-position-west-always-suspected-no-co-rcna210552