Russian President Vladimir Putin has been exhibiting openness to possible peace talks with Ukraine; but experience dictates a need to heed caveats being overshadowed by the talks of negotiations. Apparently, doubting Russia’s sincerity in pursuing negotiations since the Kremlin is known for using diplomacy as a tool.
It’s practical to distrust Pres. Putin’s hints about possible negotiations, especially now that Russia seems to be achieving the most successful offensive moments in the frontlines since the invasion.
It is not cynical to view Russia’s sincerity with distrust when it comes to offers of peace talks and negotiation. It’s a practical necessity since Putin dropped hints of Moscow’s willingness to enter into peace talks after launching a third wave of Ukraine invasion coming from the north of Kharkiv in the same month.
Background Supporting the Distrust Over Putin’s Hints of Peace Talk Negotiations
Historically, Russia considers extending negotiation offers only as a ploy to make opponents pause fighting to encourage furthering of peace talks deals. As was the case in 2015, the Kremlin talked peace over Syria while Russian jets pounded on civilians living in rebel-held territories. Also in 2015, Russian troops and its proxies launched a full assault against Debaltseve, a strategic town in Ukraine.
According to Reuters news agency, which cited 4 deeply connected and experienced Russian reporters as sources, the context of Putin’s peace talks statements floated at a time when Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko arrived to visit Russia. A similar occurrence happened in the past at a time when the Kremlin had used Belarusian territory in launching its military moves into Ukraine. Alexander Lukashenko’s visit last Friday was reportedly in connection with the joint tactical nuclear weapons drills conducted by the two countries.
Distrust over Putin’s peace talks signals also stemmed from the Russian president’s repeated questioning about the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelensky’s Ukrainian presidency, since the Kyiv election that was supposed to confirm Zelensky’s re-election as president did not take place. Unfortunately the country had to delay elections at that time because Putin started a war against Ukraine that he thought would end briefly.
During the early days of the assault In Ukraine, there were unconfirmed reports about the arrival of ousted pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in Belarus. Yanukovich’s mere presence in Belarus from where the attack was launched, gave rise to speculations of Putin’s plan to reinstall the ousted Ukrainian president as Russian proxy to power in Ukraine. As it was, Viktor Yanukovich had fled to Russia in 2014, after he was ousted by a series of angry street protests.
