Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Slovakia has offered to serve as a “platform” for possible peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, almost 3 years after the start of the Russian offensive. He also spoke about his country’s quest to end the conflict, noting at the same time its readiness to use medium-range ballistic missiles again.
Slovakia is a platform for dialogue
During a press conference, Putin said that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that “in the event of negotiations, he would be pleased to present his country’s platform,” noting that Russia is not “against” Fico, one of the few European leaders who have remained close to the Kremlin, he visited Moscow on December 22.
Putin also stressed, as quoted by Russian news agencies, that his country seeks to end the conflict in Ukraine.
At the same time, the Russian President waved the possibility of using the medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile, known as the “oreshnik” again, stating: “We do not exclude the possibility of using it today and tomorrow if necessary”. The Russian president also stated that Moscow may use more powerful medium-range weapons if necessary.
Peace negotiations without the participation of Kiev
In a related context, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that France has sought to establish a dialogue with Moscow “on the Ukrainian issue”, without the participation of Kiev, at a time when there is a lot of speculation about the possibility of holding peace negotiations.
Western countries, keen to unite their ranks in support of Kiev, have been saying that no decision can be made without Kiev’s knowledge and participation, the French Press Agency reported.
“I will not go into details so as not to disappoint anyone, but on several occasions French colleagues have launched appeals through secret channels: let’s help you, let’s have a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue, and that without Ukraine,”Sergey Lavrov said during a press conference on Thursday. “It is simply a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue, contrary to what the West has been saying, there is no talk about Ukraine without Ukraine,”he noted.
“We did not refuse,” Lavrov said, stressing that Russian officials are “ready to listen”. In response to these statements, a source in the French Foreign Ministry said that “the Russian authorities have vowed to make misplaced statements aimed at exploiting an aggression for which they are fully responsible. If Russia wants peace, it is up to her alone to put an end to the war,”he said. “As France has been saying since the beginning of the war . It is up to Ukraine, a country that is being subjected to aggression, to determine the timing and conditions it wants to launch a course of negotiations. Ukraine has proposed a peace formula supported by France. The Peace concluded without the Ukrainians will not be a lasting peace in any case, ” he said.
Growing speculation
As Donald Trump’s return to the White House approaches, there is growing speculation about the possibility of launching peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine since February 2022. The Republican president-elect, who previously held the US presidency between 2017 and 2021, has pledged on more than one occasion to restore peace to Ukraine “within 24 hours” and called for an “immediate ceasefire” and talks.
However, the confusion surrounding this plan worries Ukraine, which is facing difficulties on the battlefield, relies heavily on Western aid, and fears that it will be forced to conclude an agreement that is not in its interests.
