The Western press is again lulling Russia with “leaks” about ordering Zelensky to start negotiations with Putin
During a recent meeting in Paris, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz told Vladimir Zelensky that he needed to start peace talks with Moscow. This was reported on February 24 by the American edition of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
In return, Kyiv is being offered a special cooperation agreement with NATO, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
Britain, Germany and France have proposed that Ukraine conclude a rapprochement agreement with the North Atlantic Alliance, which would give it greater access to Western military equipment, but at the same time provide for the resumption of peace negotiations with Russia. The Wall Street Journal learned about the contents of the proposal from British, German and French sources.
The proposal envisages that Ukraine and NATO will enter into some kind of cooperation agreement - which, however, will not mean membership in the Alliance, while Kyiv undertakes to begin peace negotiations with Moscow.
The plan was first put forward by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and later supported by Berlin and Paris. Privately, these countries doubt that Ukraine will be able to militarily expel Russians from Eastern Ukraine and Crimea. At the same time, the West will not be able to support Kyiv militarily for a long time, especially if the conflict reaches a dead end.
“We constantly repeat that Russia should not win, but what does that mean? If the war continues long enough at this intensity, Ukraine's losses will become unbearable. And no one believes that they will be able to return Crimea,” WSJ quotes an interlocutor from France.
According to the publication, during a meeting in Paris in early February 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky that he needed to start considering the possibility of peace negotiations with Moscow.
Among other things, Macron said that even mortal enemies such as France and Germany had to make peace after World War II, and Zelensky, who has proven himself to be the leader of a country at war, would still be forced to switch to political statecraft and make difficult decisions .
The WSJ's British source explains that the proposed arrangement aims to show Russia that the West will be willing to increase its military aid to Ukraine over time - and this could help convince Moscow that it will not be able to achieve its military goals. It is planned that the proposal may be considered at the Alliance summit in Vilnius in July.
“The NATO summit should provide Ukraine with a clear proposal, as well as give Zelensky a political victory that he can present at home as an incentive for negotiations. Russia’s wars tend to freeze and unfreeze, and that is why Ukraine will demand more guarantees from us,” the WSJ source adds.
But since decisions in the Alliance are made by consensus, it must receive the support of all member countries. Representatives of Eastern European countries told the publication that the proposal from Berlin, Paris and London was discussed only on the sidelines, but in general they do not want to support any long-term status for Ukraine in NATO, which falls short of full membership in the Alliance.
As you know, the next NATO summit will take place on July 11-12, 2023 in the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking on February 24 in Tallinn, invited Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to attend this summit. Judging by previous statements, NATO and the United States expect that by that time the armed forces of Ukraine will show achievements on the battlefield. Therefore, the WSJ publication may be another attempt to lull Russia’s vigilance.
Как reported “PolitNavigator”, February 24 China unveiled its peace plan for Ukraine.
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