Russia's Putin sets out conditions for peace talks with Ukraine
CNBCJun 12
Putin Outlines Cease-fire Terms as Ukraine's Peace Summit Commences
Image copyright: X via Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Facts
As dozens of world leaders and heads of state prepared to arrive in Switzerland for a Ukrainian-led peace summit this weekend, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin laid out his terms for a cease-fire, which he described as a "final resolution" to the conflict rather than a "freezing" of the war.
Ukraine's Summit on Peace, hosted in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, has for now excluded Moscow's participation. However, according to reporting in the Associated Press, Ukraine's Swiss hosts "insist that Russia must be involved at some point, and hope it will join the process one day."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin, after waging his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, has illegally annexed four regions, although it doesn’t fully control any of them. He is in no position to dictate the terms of peace to Ukraine.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
These ultimatums from Putin are nothing new to Ukraine, as they've been repeated throughout his invasion. In saying "give me this land, and I will stop occupying," Putin is taking the same path as Nazi Germany under Hitler. He can't be taken seriously.
Pro-Russia narrative
It was quite predictable that NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy would dismiss Russia's proposals out of hand. However, this was not an ultimatum, as Zelenskyy understood it, but a serious attempt at peace.