Russia is intentionally prolonging peace talks on Ukraine to grab extra territory and strengthen its negotiating place with the U.S., the Moscow Instances reported on March 24, citing undisclosed sources.
A Russian diplomatic supply advised the Moscow Instances that point is now enjoying in Russia's favor, and the Kremlin needs to "benefit from it."
The article follows U.S. President Donald Trump's current calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky. After his discuss with Trump, Putin claimed he had ordered a 30-day pause on strikes towards Ukraine's power infrastructure. Kyiv supported a mutual halt on strikes however accused Russia of continuous assaults towards civilian targets.
Washington and Kyiv beforehand backed a broader 30-day ceasefire that may additionally halt floor operations, however Moscow rejected the proposal until it included a suspension of international navy assist for Ukraine and different circumstances that may weaken Kyiv's defenses.
A Russian official advised the Moscow Instances that the Kremlin hopes Washington will both tolerate additional Russian offensives or stress Ukraine into withdrawing from partially occupied areas, together with Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Russia illegally declared the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts in 2022 regardless of occupying them solely partially. Moscow additionally occupied Crimea in 2014. A Kremlin-affiliated supply mentioned Putin "can not afford to lose" these areas politically, making their management a high precedence.
Zelensky mentioned on March 12 that Kyiv is not going to acknowledge any occupied areas as a part of Russia in a possible future peace settlement with Moscow.
A brand new spherical of U.S.-Russian talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine started in Riyadh on March 24. The assembly, held a day after the U.S.-Ukraine talks, is anticipated to deal with a ceasefire within the Black Sea and broader truce negotiations, Reuters wrote.
In accordance with Russian International Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, the talks "shouldn’t be anticipated to provide a breakthrough," and work is happening in "a number of instructions," the pro-state media outlet Kommersant quoted her as saying.
The U.S. and Ukraine are anticipated to carry one other spherical of talks following the U.S.-Russia discussions. The negotiations come amid Trump's ongoing efforts to dealer a ceasefire and a broader peace settlement in Ukraine.
The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy
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