"Persistent stalling": Putin is hindering Trump's efforts to secure a lasting and stable peaceful settlement - ISW
Kyiv • UNN
Putin rejects a ceasefire proposed by Trump and Zelensky. ISW analysts point to the Kremlin's vague demands.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to reject the temporary ceasefire on the front line proposed by White House head Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is stated in the material of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), reports UNN.
Details
It is noted that Putin adheres to this tactic, despite agreeing to some form of ceasefire for strikes on energy infrastructure and in the Black Sea.
Putin's persistent procrastination and intransigence are hampering Trump's efforts to ensure a lasting and stable peace settlement. US reports on both meetings with the Russian and Ukrainian delegations state that Trump "demands an end to the killings on both sides" in the war "as a necessary step towards achieving a lasting peace settlement" - likely referring to the unconditional 30-day general ceasefire on the front line that Trump and Zelenskyy have already agreed to, but Putin rejected on March 18
They also point out that the Kremlin has stated that it will not implement the agreed ceasefire in the Black Sea until the United States lifts sanctions on the Russian state agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank and other unspecified financial institutions involved in international trade in food and fertilizers.
The Kremlin's official statement vaguely refers to specific sanctions and restrictions that the Kremlin demands the West pre-emptively lift, as well as the specific financial institutions and companies involved. The Kremlin's statement also does not specify which entities will interpret the parameters of these restrictions, monitor the lifting of these restrictions, and verify compliance by all parties
Analysts conclude that the Kremlin's official statements are vague, imply ceasefire demands that are not mentioned in official statements by the United States or Ukraine, and leave room for disagreement between the parties that will be involved in interpreting the agreements, lifting sanctions, and monitoring possible violations.
Reminder
The Kremlin has published an agreed list of Russian and Ukrainian facilities that are subject to a temporary moratorium on strikes on the energy system. The list includes oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines and storage facilities, including pumping stations, infrastructure that generates and transmits electricity, including power plants, substations, transformers and distributors, nuclear power plants, as well as hydroelectric dams.
