“AThe peace talks must be resumed, not with an ultimatum, but with common sense,” Putin said at a press conference in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
Putin called on Ukraine to return to the negotiating table, but warned that the ultimate objective of the talks should be “the signing of legally binding documents” and that the return to negotiations cannot be based solely on the demands of one of the parties.
“(Return to negotiations) but based on the current situation on the ground. We are ready”, assured the Russian leader, but raising a question: “With whom to negotiate? This is not a trivial issue (…). Russia is aware that the legitimacy of the current (Ukrainian) head of state has expired”.
And he continued: “One of the objectives of the conference [internacional] that was announced in Switzerland is that the Western community, the sponsors of the current Kyiv regime, confirm the legitimacy of the current or no longer current head of state”.
When the time is right, Putin stressed, Moscow must be “absolutely certain” that it is talking to a “legitimate power”.
These statements by Putin come at a time when Russian troops are gaining ground both in Donbass (eastern Ukraine) and on the second front that the Russian army has opened in Kharkiv (northeast).
Ukraine has relied on financial and weapons aid from Western allies since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022.
Kyiv’s allies have also enacted sanctions against key sectors of the Russian economy to try to diminish Moscow’s ability to finance the war effort in Ukraine.
Recent months have been marked by large-scale Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, while Kyiv forces have targeted targets on Russian territory close to the border and on the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed in 2014.
Already in the third year of war, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been faced with a lack of weapons and ammunition, despite repeated promises of help from Western allies.
More than 70 heads of state and government have confirmed their presence so far at the Peace Conference in Ukraine, which will take place between June 15 and 16 in Switzerland, official Swiss sources said this week.
Read Also: Kremlin prepares Putin’s visit to North Korea
Download our free App.
Eighth consecutive year Consumer Choice for Online Press and elected product of the year 2024.
* Study by e Netsonda, Nov. and ten. 2023 product of the year – pt.com
Source: https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2567846/putin-favoravel-a-negociacoes-mas-duvida-da-legitimidade-de-zelensky
