Russia's Putin sets out conditions for peace talks with Ukraine
CNBCJUN 2024
Putin Outlines Cease-fire Terms as Ukraine's Peace Summit Commences
Image copyright: X via Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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.