Zelensky’s slow shift toward negotiating for Ukraine’s futureWAPO of course

A new U.S. president and battlefield realities appear to be pushing Zelensky, who had long insisted on fighting for every inch of occupied land, to the table.1/2

December 23, 2024 at 3:00 a.m. E

KYIV — As Ukrainian forces struggle to hold off Russia’s army on the battlefield and President-elect Donald Trump looks to broker a peace deal, President VolodymyrZelensky has in recent weeks signaled a greater willingness for negotiations to end the war— a major shift for the Ukrainian leader, who had long vowed to fight for every last inch of his country’s land. (To the last Ukrainian, not land, you liars)

Zelensky’s messaging has been careful; he has not explicitly said Kyiv would agree to concessions — territorial or otherwise — even whileRussia occupies more than 20 percent of Ukraine and would probably retain control of that land after any ceasefire.But after previously stating that negotiations could begin only once Moscow withdrew all its troops, Zelensky is now emphasizing the need for long-term security rather than the immediate return of territory.

Zelensky’s change in rhetoric — something Ukrainian and Western officials have noticed —can probably be attributed to a worsening situation on the front line and an incoming U.S. administration that has put future security assistance for Kyiv in doubt. Ukrainian officials throughout the first year (2-1/2 years to this date) the war stressed the importance of reclaiming all of Ukraine’s land, including Crimea and other areas Russia has effectively ruled since 2014, as a condition for any deal.

In recent meetings with Trump and European leaders, however, Zelensky has focused more on what he has referred to as “lasting peace” for Ukraine. The top priority is securing an invite to the NATO military alliance (he's not going to get it ever) and other security guarantees, such as the possible presence of Western peacekeepers, to prevent future Russian attacks.

Officials and analysts said Zelensky’s tone shift is probably an attempt to be more in line with Trump’s emphasis on halting the conflict.But the Ukrainian leader is also trying to ensure his country doesn’t come out empty-handed.(the oligarchs want more money)

Zelensky’s administration “understands things are going to change” under Trump, said Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia who co-chairs the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions with Ukrainian officials.

“I do think for Zelensky, this frees him up from his locked-in position that they were going to fight until the 1991 borders no matter what,” McFaul added. “He can now say, ‘Well, I would’ve loved to have done that, but Trump has come in and things have changed.’”(McCaul is a war monger and gets kick backs from MIC.)

In a recent interview with Sky News,Zelensky said the “hot phase of the war” could stop if Ukraine received NATO membership.The land that Russian forces control could then be returned later “in a diplomatic way,” he said. The comments marked his most striking acknowledgment yet that Kyiv would consider at least temporarily ceding territory. (Never going to happen)

ButNATO diplomats said an invitation to the Western military bloc remains a distant prospectbecause of misgivings among and political uncertainty in member nations allied with Ukraine, including the United States and Germany, and objections from other members, such as Kremlin-friendly Hungary.

A senior NATO diplomat said Zelensky cannot back down from the demand for Western security guarantees despite the reluctance among key allies.

“From a Ukrainian perspective, it’s completely logical to push the issue because, of course, if you’re Ukrainian, the only security guarantee that you really attach value to is NATO membership.So he will do everything to push that. Can’t blame the guy for that,” the diplomat said. Like others cited in this article, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter.

Ultimately, most doubt that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to negotiate while his troops are making gains on the front line despite heavy casualties. Some officials speculate that Zelensky is wisely hedging andhoping his more amenable posture will endear him to Trump’s White Houseand leave it open to providing more support for Ukraine’s defense if Putin rejects talks. (Putin has sincerely called for peace talks since almost the beginning. He just wanted Ukraine from killing ethnic Russians since 2014)

https://archive.is/Tdtv3

>>22217899

2/2

“I put myself in his shoes, and what else is he supposed to do?” a senior Ukrainian official said. “Should he tell Trump and America that we don’t need their help and we’ll just do it our way? I think he’s handling it perfectly.” (He is responsible for a million+ dead or injured Ujrainians, how is that perfect?)

Kyiv’s European allies are also contending with a changing reality and trying to shape the outcome. They have sought to increase support for Ukraine, worried that Trump’s return could mean diminished U.S. fundingand that Kyiv’s position for talks is too weak at this time. (This is not about Kiev, its about destroying Russia)

Andpolicymakers across Europe are discussing further boosting spending on their own defense, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that allies must “shift to a wartime mindset” and spend much more on defense to remain ready to counter any threats from Russia in the coming years.

“The first step we have to take is for Zelensky to be able to negotiate from a position of strength. And at the moment, the front line is moving westwards, not eastwards,” Rutte told reporters last week. “He doesn’t need more plans, he needs ammunition.” (their solution is the US providing arms, not them)

Putin, meanwhile, has stuck to his maximalistposition: an effective Ukrainian capitulation. He spelled out his conditions for peace talks in June, demanding that Ukraine hand Moscow permanent sovereignty over four regions that Russia claimed to annex in 2022— Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, as well as Crimea. That would involve Kyiv surrendering more territory to Russia, because Russian forces don’t fully control those regions.

Putin has insisted on Ukraine repudiating NATO membership permanently. In a marathon news conference Thursday, he also referenced Russia’s demands in the talks between the two sides in Istanbul during the first months of the war, which called for significantly reducing the size of Ukraine’s military. (He was promised this by Bush in 1991, they lied to Russia)

Zelensky’s emphasis on security guarantees stems from a deep mistrust of Russia and concern that if the fighting stops now, Putin could just invade again in a few years — as he did with in 2022, eight years after illegally annexing Crimea. A ceasefire without a long-term objective would give Russia an opportunity to replenish its military ranks and weapons stocks, Ukrainian officials said.(The exact thing that Zelensky did with the help and lies of Macron and Scholtz at the beginning. Russia agreed to the cease fire and Kiev attacked. Liars one and all)

With NATO membership appearing unlikely, European allies have floated alternative solutions, such as a peacekeeping force, which Zelensky has been open to.But Ukrainian officials maintain that is not an acceptable consolation prize for not being in NATO.

Zelensky said after talks in Brussels on Thursday that European guarantees alone would not be sufficient without a “common decision” and a U.S. role. “It is very important for us to have both on board, the United States and the Europeans,” he said.

Ukraine has already signed security pacts with individual countries, but analysts and officials acknowledged that the pacts might not be honored in the future.

“They’re not binding, and they’re not treaties,” McFaul said. “It’s a worrisome thing.”

The senior Ukrainian official said they are “starting to believe” that the war could indeed end next year as talk about a peace deal has picked up since Trump’s election. But if not for all the sudden public talk of a peace settlement, “I wouldn’t believe we’re anywhere close to negotiations,” the official said. “I just don’t think it’s possible to come to any agreement with Putin.” (Which Putin has been open to since the beginning. He doesn't want his citizens dying in a useless war. Obviously this was written by propagandists in the US).

https://archive.is/Tdtv3

>>22217899

23 Dec, 2024 23:25

Several nations willing to host Putin-Trump talks – Kremlin aide

The US president-elect has claimed that he could easily resolve the conflict in Ukraine

Several countries have offered to host potential negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President-elect Donald Trump, Putin’s aide, Yury Ushakov, has said.

During a press briefing on Monday, the former diplomat was asked if prime ministers Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia had offered to host a meeting between the two nuclear-armed states.

“We have received several proposals from different countries,” Ushakov told reporters during a press briefing on Monday. “I will not name specific countries, in order not to impact any potential developments. But such proposals have been made and are being made.”

US President-elect Donald Trump has claimed that he would quickly mediate a settlement between Russia and Ukraine.He said last week that he was ready to speak to Putin “as soon as possible.”The Kremlin said on Sunday that there were no specific plans for such a meeting, however.

According to media reports, Trump’s team is considering the freezing of the conflict along the current front line. Both Russia and Ukraine previously dismissed such an idea as unacceptable. Moscow insists that Kiev must drop its aspirations to join NATO and renounce claims on Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions that are now part of Russia.

The peace talks held in Belarus and Türkiye broke down in the spring of 2022, with both sides accusing each other of making unrealistic demands.Putin later said that Ukrainian negotiators abruptly abandoned the talks, after initially agreeing to transform Ukraine into a neutral country and restrict its army. Victoria Nuland, a senior US State Department official, admitted in 2024 that Washington and its allies advised Kiev not to agree to the terms demanded by Moscow.

Switzerland, Türkiye and Saudi Arabiawere among the countries that expressed desire to host future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, while China, Brazil and Indonesia have unveiled roadmaps to end the conflict.

Hungary and Slovakia broke rank with fellow NATO members, arguing against unconditional support for Ukraineand insisting that the conflict should be resolved through diplomatic means.

Orban and Putin discussed Ukraine in detail over the phone earlier this month, according to the Kremlin. Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow on Monday, telling reporters after a meeting with Putin that Kiev’s decision not to renew the contract on the transit of natural gas would damage Slovakian economy. Slovakia receives Russian gas through Ukrainian territory.

https://www.rt.com/russia/609847-nations-host-putin-trump-talks/

(Truthfully it must be humiliating for Putin, the top 3rd most powerful country; and Putin being the leader to negate his position to the chimp Zelensky)

23 Dec, 2024 18:50

Kiev plans to shut down popular war map tracker – MP

The ‘DeepState’ platform has been confirming Russian advances in Donbass

Ukraine’s top military commander General Aleksandr Syrsky hasreportedly sought to silence an open-source intelligence (OSINT) project tracking battlefield developmentsin the ongoing conflict with Russia, aUkrainian MP has claimed. Mariana Bezuglaya, the deputy head of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, made the allegations on Monday via Telegram.

The project, known as ‘DeepState,’ gained recognition for its interactive map documenting frontline changes.

Launched shortly after the Russian offensive began in February 2022,the map provides daily updates based on publicly available data, serving as a resource for military personnel and civilians alike. Updates have become less frequent recently, potentially reflecting the growing complexity of the conflict.

According to Bezuglaya,the Ukrainian General Staff views DeepState as a rival to its own official reports, which she criticized as unreliable.

She alleged that officials are considering measures ranging fromforcibly shutting down the platform to more extreme actions, such as sending its team to the frontlines as infantry or involving the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) to dismantle the project.

The MP described DeepState as “the last bastion” of credible frontline informationand called on supporters to aid the project amid what she described as growing hostility from Ukraine’s high command.

Bezuglaya attributed themilitary’s actions to a desire to maintain public perceptions of control over the battlefield.

Neither the Ukrainian military nor General Syrsky has commented on the claims.

This is not the first time Bezuglaya has clashed with Ukrainian military leadership. She has previously criticized high-ranking officials, including Syrsky’s predecessor Valery Zaluzhny, who was dismissed earlier this year.

Her outspoken comments have led to her being added to the notorious Mirotvorets website.The state-backed database was created to collect and track personal data of people whom anonymous moderators consider enemies of Ukraine. The website has also been dubbed “Kiev’s kill list” after several people were allegedly assassinated after their information was posted.

Over recent months, ‘DeepState’ regularly updated its map to show the rapid advances of Russian forcesin Donbass, where they have been steadily moving westwards ever since they took control of the strategic town of Avdeevka in February. In October, Russian troops took another Ukrainian ‘stronghold’ in the region, the town of Ugledar, and are currently on the verge of fully seizing one of the major Ukrainian logistical hubs in the area – the town of Kurakhovo.

(Ukraine covering up their crimes and losses)

https://www.rt.com/russia/609840-kiev-shut-down-war-map-tracker/