(Moscow) reported that the New York Times reported that although Russian President Putin was bluntly in public, he was actually implying that the Ukrainian ceasefire agreement was interested in consulting the Ukrainian ceasefire agreement -as long as he could finally declare victory.
两名与克里姆林宫关系密切的俄罗斯前高官，以及收到普京特使信息的美国和国际官员透露，普京至少从9月起就一直通过中间人发出信号，表明他对停火持开放态度，即Frozen the battle according to the current front; although this is far from Putin's ambition to control Ukraine.
Former Russian officials said that Putin's propaganda tools can easily distort the status quo of the war into victory, celebrate them to establish a land corridor that leads to Crimea, and the Russian army has hosted the Ukraine counterattack using Western weapons.And Russia claims to annex four Ukraine regions, although it has not fully controlled these areas.
People familiar with the matter said that the ideal timing of reaching a ceasefire agreement was before the Russian presidential election in March 2024.Putin will definitely get another six -year term, but he hopes to show his support from the domestic people through this election.
The current and former officials said that Putin believes that the combination of various factors has created a favorable timing to reach an agreement: the battlefield seems to be in a deadlock, Ukraine's counterattack has caused the impact of disappointment, decline in Western support, and since October 7The Gaza War dispersed people's attention.
Putin's spokesman Peskov answered New Year's comment requirements: "Putin is indeed prepared for negotiations, and he has said so.Realize your goals. "
U.S. officials: Putin ceasefire agreement allows Russia to control nearly two % of the territory
U.S. officials have also seen a change in Putin, pointing out that he no longer demands that the government led by Ukraine President Zernezki steps down.They said that the ceasefire agreement proposed by Putin will maintain a sovereign Ukraine with Kiev as the capital, but Russia controls it that it has conquered nearly 20%of Ukrainian territory.
There are no signs that the Ukrainian leaders who promise to regain all territories will accept such an agreement.Ukraine has been fighting for its own peace plan, which requires Moscow to pay all the occupied Ukrainian territories and pay compensation.President Zeleiski said on Tuesday (December 19) that he did not see signs of Russia's willingness to negotiate, "we only see the wickedness of murderous murder."
Some US officials are also worried that this may be the usual misleading trick of the Kremlin, not that Putin is really willing to compromise.Russian officials said that if the Russian army has become strong, Putin is likely to change his mind again.
