– By proposing conversations without suspending weapons, Putin plays on time, while testing the position of the USA and Europe. He needs time to decide if he wants to extend the fighting, risking the exacerbation of sanctions – in this way Dr. Witold Sokała evaluates the last signals from the Kremlin.
A few days quite unexpectedly Vladimir Putin stated that he was ready for direct conversations with the Ukrainian side. Negotiations would start on May 15 in Turkey. In response, the President of Ukraine reported that he was ready to meet Putin in Turkey in person.
Dr. Sokała does not believe that Russia really want real negotiations with Ukraine.
– For Russia, it is a chance to break solidarity between Washington and Ukraine and the main countries of the coalition that hosted at the weekend in Kiev. The hard position of European allies has already been questioned by Donald Trump, who wrote in social media that Ukraine should, after all, agree to Russian proposals as to the start of talks – comments the analyst.
– In this situation, Wołodymyr Zelanski does well that he is going to Turkey. This is another test of Putin's real intentions. Of course, not for us, because with us hardly anyone has doubts about the Russian game, but for the White House. Apparently President Trump still did not understand that Russia was in consultation with his main enemy, i.e. China. And that he plays him about war like a student – he adds.
Onet's interlocutor is of the opinion that “Trump needs additional arguments.” “He'll probably get them, because I doubt Putin will get more than another avoidance.” Then the Americans will be even more difficult to continue the shameful policy of refining aggressors and murderers – he argues.
Dr. Sokała emphasizes that even in such a situation it will not be certain that “Trump will finally behave as it should.” “It is possible that he will once again close his eyes to the realities and will go into his imaginary, great deals with the Kremlin,” he points out.
Putin's statement on negotiations. Ukraine's response
During the night speech on May 11, the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that he was allegedly ready for direct talks with the Ukrainian side in Turkey next week. – We offer the authorities in Kiev resumption without any preliminary negotiations that were interrupted at the end of 2022 – announced Putin.
However, he ignored the idea of a 30-day arms suspension.
However, this is a key issue for the Ukrainian side. In an interview with RBK-Ukrain, the head of the Cabinet of the President of Ukraine Andrij Jermak commented on the possibility of talks with Russia in Istanbul, emphasizing that Kiev is open to dialogue, but will not give way to the request of a 30-day arms suspension.
Talks on the Russia-Ukraine line would start on May 15.
