Russia open to Trump-led talks, but demands ground realities
Gennady Gatilov, Russia's ambassador to the UN, said Russia is open to negotiations on an end to the Ukraine war if initiated by US President-elect Donald Trump. However, he added that Putin's army's current advances must be taken into account.
Many of the reports by Russian media and representatives of power are likely not true. Such reports may be an element of an information war by the Russian Federation.
Gennady Gatilov, the Russian ambassador to the UN, referred to potential peace talks with Ukraine. The politician said that Russia is ready for such a possibility.
Russia is open to negotiations on an end to the Ukraine war if initiated by US President-elect Donald Trump, but any talks need to be based on the realities of Russian advances - conveyed Gatilov on Thursday in Geneva, as quoted by Reuters.
Russian ambassador on Trump's promise. "We are realists"
Donald Trump promised during the presidential campaign that he would end the war in Ukraine in one day. According to the Russian ambassador to the UN, this is impossible.
OK, let's get realistic - of course we understand that this will never happen - said Gatilov.
"The Wall Street Journal" reported what a potential solution to the conflict by Trump might look like. It proposed the creation of a demilitarised zone along the current front line. Ukraine would not be able to join NATO for 20 years. Meanwhile, four European countries - Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom - would ensure their armies adhere to the ceasefire at the new border.
The Russian ambassador clearly states that his country is "open to negotiations", but any negotiations must be based on so-called "realities on the ground" and must define Ukraine as the losing side since about 32,000 square kilometres of its territory is currently occupied by Russian troops.
These assumptions do not align with Volodymyr Zelensky's "victory plan." The Ukrainian president stated that his country should be integrated into NATO and that the occupying forces must be withdrawn. Regarding any concessions to Russia, he said they would be "unacceptable for Ukraine and suicidal for all of Europe."
