Here’s another discouraging story. What do you think of the proposed ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine? It’s very hard to make an intelligent comment in the absence of details of which I have seen none. That seems to be Russia’s position at present, too.
I’m skeptical that the Russians will accept any ceasefire given the conditions on the ground at present.
The usual Russian position is they will listen to any proposals. But the proposed ceasefire fails to meet the must fundamental Russia demand: that Ukraine withdraw from all Russia’s claimed territory and recognize the Russian claims as valid. So, I think the proposal will be rejected.
There a lot of other demands Russia has made, too, and senior officials continually bring the history of Russia in Kiev, Odessa, and other “Ukrainian” places. They want all of those settled before any ceasefire.
The Russians also maintain that Zelenskyy’s government is illegitimate and cannot sign any agreements; it will have to be replaced first.
Simplicius thinks the ceasefire proposal is a disaster, and that Trump’s second term is failing, because Trump cannot deliver on any promise.
https://simplicius76.substack.com/p/us-and-ukraine-hatch-ceasefire-travesty
Andrei Martyanov thinks the ceasefire proposal irrelevant, and that Trump is simply flailing about without a plan.
Both think he has been captured by his staff, again.
Seems both sides still think they can maneuver, or outlast, the other side and peace talks are premature.
I thought Trump was going to walk away but now it’s looking like that was a bluff and we’re going to continue to supply Ukraine with weapons only now they need to pay for them.
Russia will never accept NATO “peacekeepers” in Ukraine as any part of a deal we know that and pretend we don’t.
Looks like Putin wants a Ukraine surrender and a rollback of Poland and the Latvian countries NATO membership before agreeing to a ceasefire.
https://archive.ph/v91tp
Steve
That link does not mention Poland or the Baltic countries.
“It has demanded an effective rollback of Nato’s eastward expansion since the cold war, which Putin has claimed forced him to order his invasion of Ukraine in 2022.”
Steve
Fair enough. Sounds like a non-starter to me.
And in the meantime, Poland and France are talking about nuclear umbrellas which would push Russian paranoia up to 11. Dangerous times