Russia, June 5, 2024
Reports from inside the Kremlin suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown his readiness to ‘put on pause’ the fighting in Ukraine. This change of attitude is quite remarkable, as Putin has been quite vocal about his desire to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end by force.
According to the Reuters news agency, Putin’s plan can be summarized as follows: stopping the fighting along the line and effectively acknowledging Russia’s occupation of large parts of Ukraine. This action is regarded as the next step in the ongoing political conflict, as Putin is not ready to give any of the territories now occupied by Russia to Ukraine.
Thus, the Russian leader’s readiness to freeze the conflict is stated to stem from his concern that another Russia-wide mobilization would damage his approval ratings. Also, Putin is wary of the nuclear interaction between the parties and the financial reprisal of a protracted war.
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However, for several months, Ukraine has rejected any negotiations on the ceasefire, while Putin’s idea has evoked interest among the leaders of Western countries. Still, the United States and other NATO countries have remained cautious, keeping in mind previous times when Moscow has used diplomacy to mask its military ambitions.
The Ukraine Peace Summit to be held on June 15-16 may prove to be an effective platform for Putin’s interventions. Still, the Russian leader has declined the possibility to attend the summit, and it is uncertain whether this proposal will yield further advancements in the conflict.
