Putin's ceasefire offer: hope or strategy?

Putin's ceasefire offer: hope or strategy?

Moskau, Russland - Russia's President Vladimir Putin proposed a ceasefire along the front line in Ukraine through US mediators. Reports from the OE24 indicate that Moscow could be ready to avoid claims to partially taken Ukrainian areas that are still under the control of Ukrainian government. In return, the United States is said to recognize the Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, as Russian. These news are coming while there are no statements about Putin’s proposal in Washington and Kiev.

Putin submitted this deal at the beginning of the month in St. Petersburg to the US specialist Steve Witkoff. Witkoff plans to speak to Putin in Moscow again in the coming days. Despite the offer, there is skepticism, because Putin had promised Easter a ceasefire that was broken by the Russian troops over 3,000 times. The political context is remarkable in which this advance, which could apparently be geared towards former US President Donald Trump, who threatened to stop the peace negotiations if no quick agreement is reached.

Conditions for the ceasefire

The Ukrainian government has not yet reacted directly to Putin's proposal, while the Ukrainian ambassador Oleksii Makeiev has described the conditions as unacceptable. Despite Putin's statement that his proposal to a final solution to the conflict is aimed at, the demand for a withdrawal of all Russian troops remains of crucial importance for Kiev.

The international context and the reactions

The ongoing developments are carried out as part of the Ukraine resignation conference in Berlin, the G7 meeting in Italy and the preparations for an upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland. In this context, Putin emphasizes the "moral responsibility" of the West to seriously examine its offer. However, Russia was not invited to the Peace Summit, in which Ukraine and numerous other countries will take part, which further exacerbates the diplomatic tensions.

With regard to the military status quo, Russia currently does not control any of the four annexed regions. In Saporischchja in particular, Russia has not held management, and in November 2022 the country withdrew from the capital Cherson.

US defense minister Lloyd Austin has urged Putin to end the war and leave the Ukrainian territory. The Kremlin also insists on the cancellation of all western sanctions against Russia. A real end of the military conflicts seems to be ahead, while the front lines in Ukraine continue to solidify. Further negotiations and a clear commitment to the confession of peace are essential to break through the spiral of violence, as well as ZDF reported.