Vladimir Putin has received a plea to resume ‘direct and serious negotiations’ with Volodymyr Zelensky, the new Ukrainian president, who impressed many with his no-nonsense approach in his first sit-down interview. The fresh face of Ukraine seems to have made an impression on the Russian leader too; Putin congratulated his counterpart on his recent election win, but also reiterated Moscow’s stance on several key issues. In an official response released after their first telephone call since the inauguration, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s support for peace talks and a political solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. But he also underlined that Kiev should grant self-proclaimed people’s republics more autonomy and avoid any attempts at re-centralization. Read more about the ongoing conflict in our article here –>
Putin: War Repayments Shouldn’t Preclude Peace Talks
In their initial conversation, Vladimir Putin urged Volodymyr Zelensky to push the Ukrainian parliament to ratify an agreement on the war reparations. Despite the Russian president’s assurances that Moscow is not after the money, Kiev has shown little willingness to meet with Moscow halfway on the issue. The Ukrainian parliament has been reluctant to discuss the ratification, while Zelensky’s predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, has been putting pressure on lawmakers to speed up the process. In the meantime, Moscow has been voicing its dissatisfaction with the slow progress on the issue, accusing Poroshenko of deliberately delaying the ratification. Failing to reach an agreement on the reparations threatens to derail the Minsk peace process, which is currently at a critical juncture.
Russia Is Ready to Return Ukrainian Servicemen
In the past, Moscow has often refused to transfer the captured Ukrainian soldiers, who were allowed to return to their country following a prisoner exchange. For example, two years ago, the Russian side released two of the three Ukrainians held in Russia for espionage against Russia. Some experts believe that Russia has been using the exchange as a bargaining chip against Kiev’s unfriendly stance towards Moscow. But Putin has seemingly decided to make an exception in Zelensky’s case. The new Ukrainian president has repeatedly spoken about the need to improve relations with Russia, while periodically reiterating his commitment to the Minsk agreement. Zelensky’s conciliatory rhetoric concerning the captured sailors has prompted positive reactions from the Russian leader, who expressed his willingness to return the Ukrainian servicemen.
Defectors from Ukraine Are Welcome in Russia
The Ukrainian president has not yet commented on the situation involving the so-called “Borotba” group, which consists of former government officials and patriotic activists, who were accused of promoting separatism and “armed rebellion.” The group is currently residing in Russia, having fled Ukraine after the change of power. The Borotba members stressed that their decision to seek refuge in Russia was not political, but a response to the “genocide against the people in the Donbas.” Moscow has repeatedly criticized Ukraine for cracking down on the Russian-speaking population, including the “internal migrants” from the south-east. Putin has made his position clear, stating that the Borotba activists were welcome to stay in Russia and should not expect a warm welcome in Ukraine.
Crimea Is Part of Russia and Will Remain So
The Russian leader has reiterated that Ukraine’s reunification with Crimea is impossible and that the peninsula will remain a part of Russia. His words are likely a response to Zelensky’s earlier statement that the peninsula should be “given back” to Ukraine if the people of the region so desire. Zelensky later added that the future status of Crimea would be determined through a referendum, but his initial remarks were criticized by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which accused the Ukrainian president of “blackmail and extreme irresponsibility.” Vladimir Putin has also stressed that Moscow will not allow the West to impose sanctions over the Crimean issue, while accusing Ukraine of seeking to use the conflict to disrupt the gas transit to Europe. In the meantime, Zelensky has remained silent on the Crimea issue, choosing to focus on domestic issues.
Conclusion
The Ukrainian president and the Russian leader have shown willingness to engage in dialogue and work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. However, it remains to be seen whether Zelensky will follow through on his promises, while Putin has to consider the views of his hawkish supporters in the parliament. Zelensky has made a good first impression on Putin, but the Ukrainian leader will have to prove that he is not merely a puppet of the West. For Putin, the dialogue is important not only as a way to de-escalate the situation, but also to maintain his reputation in the eyes of the Russian people.