Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ambassador-at-large, outlined the way forward for Ukraine to obtain a truce, along with the problem with the present way that they have been proceeding. “We definitely realize that the Ukrainian side needs [a pause] to reinforce its positions, build new fortifications, deliver arms, regroup forces, etc. Which means reaching a new level of escalation in a month. Naturally, that would be a move in the direction opposite of a resolution.” For that reason, “a ceasefire not integrated into a broader program for long-term settlement would not satisfy the Russian side,” he was quoted as saying today, by RT.com.
The negotiators, both Russian and Ukrainian, today decided to detail on paper how they would want a ceasefire to work; and they are to meet again after exchanging their proposals. Otherwise, Miroshnik criticized Kiev’s behavior so far, describing its lack of seriousness, trying to “shift a pragmatic work process of talks towards a show.” He also addressed a way to deal with the legal status of documents signed by Ukraine’s acting president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose presidential term expired in 2024: “There are risks that any agreement signed in an unlawful way would be later fully disavowed. Mechanisms for full legalization need to be part of the negotiations, where the parties could discuss some transition conditions.”
