Russian press secretary Dmitry Peskov said in an interview on December 5 that Russia had been ready to negotiate with Ukraine on the conflict, but the Ukrainian side interrupted the negotiation process. He said that Russia prefers to solve the problem through political and diplomatic means.
Peskov also said that it is possible that the negotiations will take place on Western soil, such as Hungary, but this is only a hypothesis. At the same time, he noted that Russia has shown that Ukraine and Western countries have not shown any intention to negotiate with Russia at the moment. He commended Hungary's willingness to act as a mediator, but stressed that the key to negotiations was the sincerity of the other side. Such a statement is undoubtedly an important shift in this protracted conflict and strained relations, both demonstrating Russia's willingness for peace and hinting at the difficulty of negotiations.
Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson gave his opinion on this in an interview. Why, he asked, is Russia negotiating? They were not at a disadvantage on the battlefield, they did not suffer significant losses, their economy remained stable under sanctions, they were able to meet the material needs of the front. He ** that negotiations will only take place on Russian terms, which, in addition to those already made public, include the voluntary relinquishment of some territories by Ukraine, such as Odessa and Kharkiv.
In his view, negotiation was a non-violent way of resolving conflicts, and it had clear advantages. It can provide an equal and mutually beneficial platform for all parties to express their needs and concerns. Through direct dialogue, parties can better understand each other's positions and objectives and thus find common ground to resolve differences.
On the Ukrainian side, Zelensky has recently faced tremendous pressure and difficulties. According to reports, Ukraine announced an extension of the wartime state, which caused doubts and worries from the outside world. According to the Ukrainian constitution, elections cannot be held in wartime, which means that Zelensky's political and life security is threatened. However, in the latest developments in the current Russia-Ukraine situation, European and American countries seem to have given Zelensky a "buffer period" of about three months. This grace period may not be to keep him safe, but to make him a scapegoat.
According to the "Observer Network", citing foreign media such as the Associated Press and the New York Times, Biden bluntly warned in a letter to congressional leaders that if Congress does not approve additional emergency support, the United States will exhaust military aid funds for Ukraine by the end of this year. Saranda Young said that if there is no more money to buy and ship**, the United States will stop aiding Ukraine, which "will make Ukraine incapable of combat on the battlefield, not only to the detriment of what Ukraine has already achieved, but also to increase the likelihood of a military victory for Russia."
In this case, it is reported that Ukraine**Zelensky originally planned to participate in a briefing on the Senate of the US Congress on the 5th, at which he informed senators of the latest situation in Ukraine on the battlefield and urged them to agree to provide assistance to Ukraine in a vote the next day. However, according to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Zelensky temporarily canceled his plan to participate, but Schumer did not explain the reason for Zelensky's absence. It is reported that the U.S. Senate plans to vote on military aid to Ukraine and Israel, U.S.-Mexico border security and other issues on the 6th local time, and the plan includes about $61 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Schumer also said that Ukraine said to him: "We had some problems at the last minute, so Zelensky ** could not attend this meeting". In addition, a number of foreign media, including the BBC, asked the Ukrainian side about this matter, but the Ukrainian side also refused to answer. Could it be that there was an attack on Kyiv that caused Zelensky to "lose contact"? Judging from the current situation, it seems that this is not the case - because the latest news released by the Japanese side shows that Zelensky will participate in the upcoming G7 leaders' summit chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In other words, it is not that Zelensky cannot attend, but that he may deliberately not want to attend the meeting with the Americans.
Zelensky has become accustomed to releasing pigeons. When I went to Japan to attend the G7 meeting before, it is said that Zelensky's team invited Lula of Brazil to meet, but Lula was left aside and never met. At that time, it was to express dissatisfaction with Lula, who suggested that Ukraine give up Crimea. It's the same this time, Zelensky knows very well that even if he makes a speech, it will be difficult to convince Republicans, so he directly stimulates the will of the United States by canceling the participation and letting them know that he also has a temper. Since it doesn't work to beg for help, let's change tactics and be tougher.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has been going on for almost a year, with fierce fighting between the two sides in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, resulting in thousands of deaths and **, as well as a large number of refugees and a humanitarian crisis. The root cause of this conflict is Ukraine's politics and security concerns about Ukraine's strategic interests and security. From the battlefield point of view, although the Ukrainian army has received military assistance from the United States and the European Union, including **, equipment, training and intelligence, it is still inferior to the Russian army in terms of quantity and quality. The Russian army has deployed a large number of troops and firepower on the Ukrainian border, including tanks, artillery, missiles and electronic warfare equipment, and has strong offensive and defensive capabilities.
In 2023, Russia has achieved socio-economic stability under Western sanctions and is adapting to a protracted conflict. Whether it is Europe forcing Zelensky to negotiate with Russia by reducing its aid to Ukraine, or the United States interrupting military aid to Ukraine to reduce its own consumption. If this crisis were to end with Russia gaining territory, it would be a major blow to America's global leadership.
Against this background, Russia put forward the initiative of negotiations, showing its initiative and flexibility in the conflict. Russia has not only expressed its goals in the conflict in Ukraine, but also demonstrated its influence and position in the international arena. Russia's initiative to negotiate is also a challenge to Ukraine and Western countries, asking them to respond to and respect Russia's demands and concerns. Russia's initiative to negotiate is also a test for itself, requiring it to remain firm and rational in the negotiations, while at the same time seeking the possibility of peace and cooperation.
Negotiation is a non-violent way of resolving conflicts, and it has clear advantages. It can provide an equal and mutually beneficial platform for all parties to express their needs and concerns. Through direct dialogue, parties can better understand each other's positions and objectives and thus find common ground to resolve differences. Negotiation is also a risky approach that requires compromise and sacrifice on the part of all parties, while facing uncertain outcomes and consequences. The success of the negotiations depends on the willingness and ability of the parties, as well as on the external environment and conditions. The process and outcome of the negotiations will have a far-reaching impact on the direction and outcome of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the pattern of international order and security.