This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: May 24 at 23:10:20 UTC (history) |
| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: May 24 at 23:10:20 UTC (history) |
Friday, May 24, 2024
On Friday, May 24, 2024, a anonymous senior Russian official said that Russian president Vladimir Putin was “ready for a ceasefire – to freeze the war [in ukraine],”. Multiple other sources confirmed that Putin was ready to halt the war on the current frontlines. This came in midst of Russian offensives in Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts.
In Belarus, Putin requested that peace talks resume, saying that the talks should be based on “the realities on the ground” and “not on the basis of what one side wants”. Dmitry Peskov also said that Russia did not want an “eternal war.”
The proposed ceasefire, with Putin holding onto the occupied territories of Ukraine, would result in major chunks of Ukrainian territory remaining under Russian control, particularly in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts. The holding onto off battlefield gains was a non-negotiable for Russia, suggested all of the Russian sources. Peskov stated for the occupied terrorities, formally annexed by Russia, there would be no question of returning them to Ukraine.
Ukrainian and international reactions to the proposed ceasefire have been generally negative. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that the ceasefire attempt was a “phony signal” meant to cause problems for the peace summit planned to occur in Switzerland this summer. Kuleba continued that “Putin currently has no desire to end his aggression against Ukraine.” adding that “Only the principled and united voice of the global majority can force him to choose peace over war,”. Ukrainian presidental adviser stated that Putin wanted the West to accept defeat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also stated that peace on Putin’s terms is a non-starter, and that he will retake all territory internationally recognized as Ukrainian. In 2022, Zelensky signed a decree stating that peace talks with Putin were “impossible”. The State Department said that “Russia could end the war at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine, instead of continuing to launch brutal attacks against Ukraine’s cities, ports, and people every day,”. According to both Reuters and i24 News, the prospects for a ceasefire were “remote”.
Many Western analysts believed that the appointment of Andrei Belousov as Russia’s Minister of Defense was placing the economy of Russia on a permanent wartime basis to win a lengthly war. In addition, many Russian advances have been reported during recent weeks. This is thought by multiple sources to be the reason for the offer, stating that Putin thought the gains were enough to claim victory to the Russian people. Other sources stated that Putin realized that new advanced would require another mass-mobilization. They also stated that this was undesirable for Putin, and that the mobilization in September 2022 has caused a significant drop in Putin’s popularity. It had also triggered a mass exodus of civilians from Russia.
A Russian source stated that no agreement could happen whilst Zelensky continued to be the president of Ukraine, unless Russia made a deal with the United States. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, stated that he did not believe Putin was interested in serious negotiations.
