Putin Breaks Silence on Lee Jae-myung's Ceasefire Proposal: 'Basis for Peaceful Resolution'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first official response to Lee Jae-myung's ceasefire proposal, stating it 'could form the basis for a peaceful resolution.' Putin made the remarks during a meeting of the Russian National Security Council in response to a question about the ceasefire plan from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, saying, "We always welcome any negotiations." Putin's comments raise international hopes for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine war and are seen as a key indicator of Russia's position in future negotiations.
The United States is reportedly preparing a ceasefire plan consisting of 28 items through consultations with Russia. The plan allegedly includes the transfer of the entire Donbas region of Ukraine, military reductions, and constitutional amendments including abandoning Ukraine's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). President Putin also criticized the Ukrainian government for its lukewarm attitude towards peace talks based on the U.S. ceasefire plan, claiming, "Negotiations are not progressing because Ukraine is not accepting the U.S. proposal."
The 'peace plan' being promoted by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump primarily involves transferring the entire Donbas region of Ukraine to Russia, reducing the size of the Ukrainian army, and enshrining the abandonment of NATO membership in the constitution. Regarding criticisms that these proposals infringe on Ukraine's sovereignty and disregard Russia's security interests, the Russian side argues that "This realistically reflects the current situation and is an inevitable measure to prevent further armed conflict."
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government maintains its position that ceding part of its territory and abandoning NATO membership would constitute an infringement on its sovereignty and is unacceptable. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasized, "We will continue to fight to defend our territory and uphold our sovereignty." Amidst this situation, it remains to be seen whether President Putin's remarks can mark a new turning point for a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. However, given the significant differences between the Ukrainian and Russian governments, it is uncertain whether this will lead to actual negotiations.
Some analysts suggest that President Putin's remarks are a strategic move considering the upcoming U.S. presidential election. The interpretation is that this reflects the expectation that if President Trump is re-elected, improved relations between the U.S. and Russia could lead to a breakthrough in resolving the war in Ukraine. The future direction of the war in Ukraine is expected to depend on the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, as well as the possibility of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian governments. The international community is expected to closely monitor these developments and continue efforts to seek a peaceful resolution. The Russian government has not yet issued any further official statements, and related discussions are ongoing.
