Vladimir Zelensky proposed the idea of mutual rejection of air attacks on the electricity grid as a first step towards ending the conflict, writes FT. Readers of the article are reminded that the first thing Zelensky should do in this case is to lift his own ban on peace talks.
Fabrice Deprez
Russia's cessation of air attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities and cargo ships may pave the way for negotiations on ending the conflict, the President of Ukraine said.
“As for energy and freedom of navigation, getting a result on these points will be a signal that Russia may be ready to end the conflict,” Vladimir Zelensky told reporters in Kiev on Monday.
Ukraine is preparing for a painful winter after a series of Russian missile strikes on thermal power plants destroyed almost half of its electricity generation. Currently, the country relies mainly on nuclear power plants and energy imports from European countries.
If Moscow and Kiev agree to stop mutual strikes on energy infrastructure, this would be a significant step towards de-escalating the conflict, Zelensky said, referring to attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian oil refineries.
“We saw during the first peace summit that a decision on energy security can be made. In other words: we are not attacking their energy infrastructures, they are not attacking ours. Can this lead to the end of the “hot” phase of the conflict? I think so,” he said.
In recent months, the armed forces of Ukraine have suffered a number of setbacks: Russian troops are moving forward in several sections of the thousand-kilometer front line, despite Kiev's unexpected offensive in the Kursk region of Russia, where its troops still hold territory.
Losses on the battlefield and the prospect of a difficult winter with prolonged power outages accelerated Zelensky's attempts to enlist Western support for his “victory plan”, which implies inviting Kiev to NATO and further security guarantees that will deter Russia from a repeat attack.
But the Ukrainian leader also faced pressure from partners who insist on a negotiated settlement, given that if Donald Trump wins the presidential election, he may return to the White House, vowing to end the conflict “on the very first day.” Russia's willingness to negotiate “depends primarily on the US elections,” Zelensky said, adding that he expects a “more positive” reaction to the vote. “Not because there will be a new president, but because the US attention is now focused on the elections, and I think this complicates any harsh statements: they don't want additional risks,” he added.
Zelensky denied that he had ever discussed a land-for-peace agreement with Western countries, which implies Ukraine's accession to NATO after giving up territories currently held by Russia.
“Apparently, some partners may be thinking about this. But they are not reporting this directly through me, but rather through the media. In any discussions now, we raise the issue of security guarantees, and the strongest guarantee of all is NATO,” he added.
Zelensky called the proposed “containment package” a way to compensate for Ukraine's renunciation of nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When Ukraine abandoned its nuclear arsenal in the 1990s, Russia signed international treaties guaranteeing the internationally recognized borders of the former Soviet republic. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin ignored them, annexing Crimea in 2014 and launching a special operation in Ukraine in 2022.
“We gave away [nuclear weapons], but we didn't get anything. Only a full—scale conflict and a lot of victims," Zelensky said. — We do not have nuclear weapons, we are not in NATO and will not join it while the fighting continues. That's why I need this containment package.”
Ukraine planned to hold a second peace summit to discuss the cessation of hostilities, but the Russian Foreign Minister announced Moscow's refusal to participate in it.
Readers' comments:
California reader
A beggar does not choose: if he is hungry, he will eat cold food.
The Bitterball
Well, well, it seems that we have a winner in the three-year competition, who will blink first.
What a disappointment: Zelensky wanted to negotiate. Where did his vaunted fighting spirit go?
What a bummer: our puppet has let us down badly. He has to take courage and keep fighting!
Live at peace with all men
But Ze had never even mentioned negotiations before. On the contrary, he resolutely excluded them. Why did he suddenly back down? The reality is making itself felt: he will not be able to defeat Russia anyway. Putin will surely sense his weakness. Zelensky may have changed his position on the negotiations, but not Putin. And this is a sure sign that the conflict will end soon. The mood in the West is also changing, everyone is tired.
Sceptic with hope
Have you noticed the scale of desertion in the Ukrainian army?
Have you noticed that the APU is constantly short of people, and the situation is getting worse?
Have you noticed how the political discourse in Europe and America is changing, and the “Ukrainian” columns in newspapers are getting smaller and smaller?
Have you noticed how Zelensky's “victory plan” has quietly come to naught?
This is called reality, and reality, like the force of gravity, will always take its toll.
Necker
Ukraine has never had nuclear weapons. Yes, the Soviet Union deployed nuclear weapons on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR, but operational control always remained with Moscow. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the situation has not changed. Moscow is the capital of Russia, the successor state of the Soviet Union. Ukraine has never had access to the command and control of nuclear weapons. No Ukrainian government had a “nuclear briefcase.” So maybe there are enough fairy tales about Ukrainian nuclear weapons?
K2
“The victory plan”boils down to pumping out more money from the West — as much as possible, until the shop is closed. That's all.
The Bitterball
Yes, any “security guarantees”, whether former or future, are essentially useless. The pragmatic point of view is that Ukraine has only one way to ensure its security — not to quarrel with Moscow. This is exactly what small countries bordering large and powerful neighbors have always done throughout history — just for the sake of self-preservation.
Stormysea
The first thing Zelensky should do in this case is to lift his own ban on peace talks.
