Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to refuse a comprehensive truce, insisting instead on a broad European security overhaul following talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. European Union top diplomat Kaja Kallas dismissed these conditions as a trap, arguing that ending the active fighting must strictly precede broader security treaties. Meanwhile, Moscow has yet to decide if it will permit European officials to join future diplomatic negotiations after they were excluded from recent talks in Abu Dhabi.
Key points
European leaders insist that an immediate ceasefire must be secured before any long-term…: European leaders insist that an immediate ceasefire must be secured before any long-term continental security agreements are addressed.
The Kremlin has not yet finalized a decision on allowing European nations to participate…: The Kremlin has not yet finalized a decision on allowing European nations to participate in upcoming rounds of peace talks.
Vladimir Putin may hold separate discussions next week with Donald Trump and Chinese lead…: Vladimir Putin may hold separate discussions next week with Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
- Published
Russia's President Vladimir Putin says he wishes "eternal peace" for Ukraine.
That is the same Russian president who ordered the full-scale invasion of Russia's neighbour nearly five years ago and who continues to reject the idea of a comprehensive ceasefire.
And what, in Moscow's view, is a prerequisite for peace?
The Kremlin spelt it out after talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner: "A new, long-term architecture of indivisible security and peace."
Translated from Kremlin-speak, it means Moscow wants to change the security set-up of Europe in a way that benefits Russia.
What Russia is pushing for is, potentially, the biggest change to European security arrangements since the end of the Cold War.
The Kremlin has put back on the table its controversial proposal from December 2021 – the "draft treaties" with the US and Nato which would not only have put the brakes on the alliance's eastward enlargement by giving Moscow cast-iron guarantees that, for instance, Ukraine and Georgia would never be allowed to join, but also rolled back Nato military infrastructure from countries of…
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