Ukraine's terms for ending the war

 Streiff:

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Since the invasion, there have been a few meetings of Ukrainian and Orc; sorry, I mean Russian representatives but very little movement. Ukraine’s position has remained that any cease-fire must be accompanied by Russian forces withdrawing to their positions as of February 23. Any discussions on the status of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk must take place after a cessation of hostilities and Russian withdrawal, and the results of those discussions will be decided by a national referendum, including the votes of Ukrainians who are refugees. The status of the Russian language will be determined by a referendum amending the constitution. Nothing has been offered by Ukraine that would give Putin even a fig leaf of victory. READ Proposed ‘Fifteen Point Peace Plan’ in Russia-Ukraine War Is a Total Defeat for Putin, but Zelensky Is Biding His Time, and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Reaches Its Culmination Point and Zelensky Plays Hardball in the Peace Negotiations.

Despite what Putin’s fellatistos say, 1) Ukraine, not NATO or the EU, makes the decision on when to negotiate and what terms are acceptable, 2) Russia has made no effort to end the war short of demanding unconditional surrender by Ukraine, and 3) no one in the West is forcing Ukraine to fight, that was a decision made by President Zelensky on February 24 (“The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride”) and has been ratified thousands of times each day since as Ukrainian soldiers fight for their country’s independence.

In yesterday’s forum, President Zelensky upped the ante.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined his conditions Friday for entering peace talks with Russia, demanding a restoration of preinvasion borders, the return of more than 5 million refugees, membership in the European Union and accountability from Russian military leaders before Kyiv would consider laying down its arms.

Zelensky’s slate of requirements, which he listed during an online forum organized by Chatham House, are in direct conflict with the military objectives Russian leaders have articulated as they bear down on the Donbas region and southern Ukraine — inflicting additional casualties Friday in apparent violation of a cease-fire.

Newsweek has further details.

Zelensky addressed a virtual meeting of the British Chatham House think tank on Friday, telling attendees that Ukraine wants to “regain our territories” and that his country has “a bright future,” despite “the cruelty of the Russian forces.”

The president said his priority is the “integrity of our borders” and the ability of all displaced people to return to their homes.

“I was elected by the people of Ukraine as president of Ukraine, not as president of a mini-Ukraine of some kind,” Zelensky said to a question about Kyiv’s conditions for a peace deal with Russia.

“This is a very important point, and I would like us to realize we need some arrangements in terms of talks to stop the killing.”

“We can use diplomatic channels to regain our territories,” the president said. The minimum Zelensky’s government expects, he said, is to return to “the security of the situation as of the 23rd of February,” one day before Russia’s latest invasion.

“They have to fall back and go beyond the contact lines, and they should withdraw the troops,” Zelensky said. “In that situation, we’ll be able to start discussing things normally. But for them to withdraw, they have to say something and we have to start talking.

The most important takeaway from this is that President Zelensky feels that he will prevail. While Russia has backed off the demands for disbanding the Ukrainian armed forces and changing the regime in Kiev in favor of a land grab along the Black Sea, Zelensky’s terms have hardened.

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There is no fig leaf for Putin and the Russians in this demand. Russia may wind up losing some of what it had before it started its war of aggression.  Russia is clearly losing on several fronts and it areas where it remains it has mostly rubble to rule over.