In reaction, the Russian presidency commented this Thursday that the North American proposal brings “nothing new” in relation to what was discussed at the summit of the leaders of the United States and Russia, in August in Alaska, despite Axios indicating that it was prepared in conjunction with Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov resorted to a play on words to respond evasively to journalists who questioned him on the matter.
“Today there are no consultations as such. Contacts, without a doubt, exist”he stated.
Peskov also resorted to the arguments usually used by Moscow regarding the conflict, noting that “any time is good for a peaceful resolution”as long as the solution eliminates its “root causes”.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with the argument of protecting pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and “denazifying” the neighboring country, independent since 1991 – after the disintegration of the former Soviet Union – and which has been moving away from Moscow’s space of influence and moving closer to Europe and the West.
The war in Ukraine has already claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides, and recent months have been marked by large-scale Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kiev’s forces have targeted targets on Russian territory close to the border and on the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014.
On the diplomatic level, Russia has so far rejected any prolonged ceasefire and demands, to put an end to the conflict, that Ukraine cede to it at least four regions – Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporijia – in addition to the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, and renounce forever joining NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Western defense bloc).
These conditions are considered unacceptable by Ukraine, which, together with European allies, demands an unconditional 30-day ceasefire before entering into peace negotiations with Moscow.
For its part, Russia considers that accepting such an offer would allow Ukrainian forces, struggling at the front, to rearm, thanks to Western military supplies.