“Secret talks” between Ukrainian and of Russia are underway in Geneva, according to Switzerland’s foreign minister, Ignacio Cassis. The Swiss official, speaking to the newspaper Le Tempshe emphasized that these discussions are obviously not being held at a higher level and that they are taking place in conditions of “maximum discretion”.
“Switzerland always offers its services. However, the question is what approach Russia and Ukraine will adopt,” he said, adding that the contacts are working out the technical aspects of a hypothetical peace agreementbetween Ukraine and Russia, so that there is a basis when the way for formal negotiations opens
The Swiss foreign minister estimated that “building peace is a complex undertaking that will require a lot of diplomacy. But we will get there, even if right now it’s not visible in the short term.”
“All decisions on negotiations depend on Ukraine”the president of the Commission had recently stated Ursula von der Leyenemphasizing: “For us the “formula” remains one… nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine». “They will decide when and how they will sit at the negotiating table,” he added.
Europe obviously does not want one endless conflict in her “backyard”.however under no circumstances, at this stage, would he like to give the sense of “guardianship” to Ukraine. Behind the scenes, it is emphasized that the aim is to secure the best possible position for Kiev, when it decides to sit down at the negotiating table.
Anyway the developments on the battlefields and the general attitude of the two sides do not give rise to hopes for the end of the war. Even more so when the conditions they set for a peace agreement are diametrically opposed and are judged by both sides as “unacceptable”.
It is characteristic that Michael Podoliakadviser to the Ukrainian President, underlined that in order for Kiev to accept a peace agreement, this should provide for the withdrawal of Russian forces on the Ukrainian border of 1991. That is, the return of Crimea, which has been under Russian control since 2014.
The professor of International Relations, Konstantinos Filisin analysis of it on the Newsbeast podcast, estimated that those involved seem “to have decided that the fate of the war in Ukraine will be decided on the ground and not at the negotiating table”. “We are at a perfect impasse and it is unknown how we will get out of it,” he added.
Source: News Beast
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