Ukrainian Official Suggests Russia May Be Invited to Peace Summit on Ukraine’s Terms
In a surprising turn of events, a top Ukrainian official has suggested that Russia may soon be invited to participate in a peace summit on Ukraine’s terms. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made this statement during a press conference on Sunday. While Ukraine is already participating in a summit to discuss a vision for peace in Switzerland, Russia will not be in attendance.
Yermak stated, “There can be a situation in which we together invite representatives of the Russian Federation, where they will be presented with the plan in case whoever is representing the aggressor country at that time will want to genuinely end this war and return to a just peace.”
This proposal comes after Zelenskyy’s peace deal proposal in late 2022, which called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and the return to pre-war borders. However, Russia dismissed this proposal immediately, and direct talks between the two nations have never taken place.
The news of a potential invitation to Russia comes at a time when Ukraine’s defense has stumbled, allowing for major Russian gains for the first time in months. Ukrainian officials have attributed their troubles to a lack of continued funding from the United States. Republicans in Congress have blocked further spending on Ukraine this year.
Experts have weighed in on the situation, stating that the war in Ukraine is unlikely to conclude in 2024. John Hardie, the deputy director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)’s Russia program, explained, “For Ukraine, the shell hunger and the manpower shortages caused by, and in the former case caused in part by U.S. delays to aid, it’s a challenging year. It was always going to be a tough year no matter what happened with U.S. aid. The congressional delays have just made it worse. So, I think for Ukraine early this year, they’ll just try to hold on by the teeth and try to make it through 2025 when – if we put the pieces in place this year – I think Ukraine could regain the advantage.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, has promised to continue improving Russia’s military power, including its nuclear capabilities. He emphasized that Russia’s armed forces will be strengthened through ongoing re-equipping and modernization efforts.
The potential invitation of Russia to a peace summit on Ukraine’s terms raises questions about the future of the conflict. Will Russia be willing to engage in genuine talks and work towards a just peace? Or will the war continue to escalate? Only time will tell.
Incorporating real combat experience, Putin has made it clear that Russia is committed to strengthening its armed forces. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the future of Ukraine and its relationship with Russia.
Sources:
– Fox News
– Reuters