Putin criticized Ukraine for inconsistent negotiations

“The Russian president explained the basic approach to negotiations with the representative of Ukraine. He stressed that despite Kiev’s inconsistency and lack of preparation for a serious negotiation effort, Russia remains open to dialogue. “, the Kremlin announced the content of a two-hour phone call between Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron today.

Mr. Putin also accused the force Ukraine committed war crimes, but the European Union (EU) “turned a blind eye” to these actions. The Russian president told Macron that the West could help stop atrocities by putting pressure on Kiev and stopping the supply of weapons to Ukraine.

When the President Macron said that global food security is under threat because of the Ukraine conflict, Mr. Putin linked the situation to other countries sanctions against Russia of the West, and emphasized the need to keep the global transport and logistics base uninterrupted.

The French president is one of the few Western leaders to speak to Putin since Moscow began its military operation in Ukraine on February 24. The most recent call between the two leaders was on March 29.

Russia and Ukraine have gone through many rounds of negotiations in both face-to-face and online formats, but have yet to agree on a ceasefire. Moscow requested Ukraine became neutral, recognized Crimea as part of Russia and recognized the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.

Sharing in an interview with Ukrainian TV on May 2, Alexey Danilov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), said that instead of a peace treaty, Kiev can only accept a text. Russia’s “admit defeat”.

He also noted that it was the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky that handled the negotiations, not the NSDC. But he believes that President Zelensky will not violate the constitution that guarantees the country’s territorial integrity and Ukraine’s desire to join NATO.

Late on May 2, adviser Alexey Arestovich of President Zelensky did not seem to object to Danilov’s statement. He highlighted Danilov as a “top official” when asked if Mr. Danilov was authorized to make such comments.

Ukraine’s hostilities entered a new phase at the beginning of April, after Russia withdrew its troops from the area around Kiev and northern Ukraine, to focus on achieving the goal of “complete control of the Donbass” and southern Ukraine. Experts assess this change could make the fighting lasted for many years.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP)