From the Dialog, citing the Times:
"...The Kremlin's strategy is as follows:
- create the illusion of a possible deal by promising "something" through unofficial channels;
- delay the process without changing the substance of the demands;
- wait for Trump to blame Kyiv and the Europeans, rather than Moscow, for the lack of progress."
The Bulwark describes the situation in more detail:
"...Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he has no intention of signing a peace agreement on any terms. Just last week, for instance, he opined that it would be “senseless” to sign any agreement with the current Ukrainian leadership because it lacks legitimacy due to Volodymyr Zelensky staying in office after his presidential term expired last May. (In reality, the extension of Zelensky’s term was mandated by the Ukrainian constitution’s ban on wartime elections—and that’s aside from the darkly comical chutzpah of such a claim from Putin, who repeatedly tinkered with Russia’s constitution to stay in power.) Putin claims that an agreement with the “illegitimate” Zelensky would not be internationally recognized as legally binding. Since Ukraine isn’t going to do insta-elections just to satisfy the Russian dictator’s supposed legal scruples, one might ask why the peace talks are even being held—other than to put on a show for Trump...
It’s a “peace process” that brings to mind the old Soviet joke about the Soviet Union’s alleged dedication to preventing war: “There will be such a struggle for peace that no stone will be left standing.” The joke acquires a grim reality when one looks at the remnants of Ukrainian cities “liberated” by Russia."
No comments:
Post a Comment