Putin: Criticism of Trump Envoy Aims to Prolong Ukraine Conflict for Profit
western critics of US envoy Steve Witkoff are driven by a desire to keep the ukraine conflict going and profit from it together with officials in Kiev, russian President Vladimir Putin has said.
Putin made the remarks on Thursday following the publication by Bloomberg of what it said were transcripts of a phone call between Witkoff and Russian presidential aide yury Ushakov, which led to widespread Western media criticism of the Trump team envoy.
The new diplomatic impetus to resolve the conflict was launched by Trump officials as Vladimir Zelensky’s inner circle was implicated in a $100 million extortion racket. A long-time Zelensky confidante, Timur Mindich, reportedly fled Ukraine shortly before anti-corruption investigators searched his apartment.
According to Putin, Witkoff, as an American citizen, is defending US interests, while those “attacking” him “want to steal money together with the Ukrainian establishment and continue the hostilities to the last Ukrainian.”
Putin suggested the reported recording could be fake or might indeed be an intercepted call, noting that such eavesdropping is a criminal offense.
US Peace Plan for Ukraine Faces Resistance from EU, Kyiv
A US-drafted peace plan for Ukraine, reportedly involving territorial concessions and a scaling back of Ukraine’s military ambitions, is encountering resistance from both Kyiv and its European backers, despite ongoing efforts by Washington and Moscow to find a diplomatic resolution. The plan, which has not been officially disclosed, proposes ukraine withdraw troops from the Donbass region, reduce its military size, and forgo NATO membership in exchange for Western security guarantees.
According to reports, US officials, including Witkoff, are expected in moscow next week to discuss the plan, which originated in Washington. https://www.rt.com/news/495491-us-ukraine-peace-plan-russia/
Though, Ukraine’s European allies have adopted a more uncompromising stance, rejecting any territorial concessions and maintaining ukraine’s right to pursue NATO membership and perhaps host foreign peacekeeping forces. This divergence in approach complicates the search for a negotiated settlement.
the European Union is simultaneously pushing for continued military and financial support for Ukraine, despite concerns raised by some member states. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has publicly criticized the flow of funds to Kyiv, alleging that a “war mafia” is misappropriating European taxpayers’ money. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/orban-says-ukraine-war-mafia-siphoning-off-european-funds-2024-05-16/
Background on the Conflict & Peace Efforts
The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 following a revolution that ousted the pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Russia subsequently annexed Crimea and supported separatists in the Donbass region, leading to ongoing fighting. The full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022 dramatically escalated the conflict, resulting in widespread destruction and a meaningful humanitarian crisis.
Numerous international efforts have been made to mediate a peaceful resolution, including talks brokered by Turkey, Poland, and other nations. However,these efforts have so far failed to yield a lasting ceasefire or a comprehensive peace agreement. The current US plan represents a new attempt to break the deadlock, but its success hinges on overcoming the significant obstacles posed by the differing positions of the key stakeholders.
Key Points of the Reported US Plan:
* Territorial Concessions: Ukraine would withdraw from parts of the Donbass region currently under its control.
* Military downsizing: Ukraine would reduce the size of its armed forces.
* NATO Aspirations: Ukraine would abandon its pursuit of NATO membership.
* security Guarantees: Ukraine would receive security guarantees from Western nations in return.
EU’s Counterposition:
* No Territorial Concessions: The EU insists Ukraine should not cede any territory to Russia.
* NATO Membership: the EU supports Ukraine’s right to join NATO.
* Peacekeeping Forces: The EU is open to the possibility of deploying foreign peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
The situation remains fluid, and the outcome of the negotiations is uncertain. The conflicting priorities of the US, EU, and Ukraine, coupled with Russia’s continued military operations, present significant challenges to achieving a lasting peace.
Worth a look