Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict for three years, and on Friday, the Kremlin announced that a draft agreement negotiated in 2022 could be used to start talks aimed at ending the war. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, stated that this document, which was discussed in Istanbul, could serve as a basis for negotiations but new realities would need to be taken into account.
In September 2022, Russia annexed four Ukrainian regions, a move that Kyiv and its Western allies consider illegal. Putin emphasized that Russia would not accept any peace plan that was forced upon them and that they were ready to work constructively based on reality during his comments on the upcoming peace talks scheduled to take place in Switzerland in June.
The document discussed in Istanbul included provisions for Ukraine’s neutral status and limitations on its armed forces. However, no agreement was reached during those negotiations. Putin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace formula, which involves the withdrawal of Russian troops, compensation to Ukraine, and international trials for Kremlin actions. Putin claims that Russia’s intervention in Ukraine is to protect its interests and prevent Kyiv from joining NATO.
Despite ongoing disagreements between the two countries, there is hope that negotiations based on the draft agreement could lead to progress in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. While new realities need to be taken into account, it’s possible that with constructive dialogue and negotiation skills both sides can find common ground towards ending this long-standing conflict.