The situation unfolding in Ukraine is by no means solved by the sole mention of peace talks from both sides. Vladimir Putin has threated nuclear war and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hardly believes the attempt at peace will be fruitful, so the likelihood of military conflict coming to an end seems null.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a meeting between a Ukrainian and Russian delegation for peace talks, according to a Sunday post on Zelensky’s social media account. However, he followed up a post with a press conference expressing much doubt about the success of peace talks with Russia.
After speaking with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Zelensky announced a meeting would occur “without preconditions” on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We agreed that the Ukrainian delegation would meet with the Russian delegation without preconditions on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
“Alexander Lukashenko has taken responsibility for ensuring that all planes, helicopters, and missiles stationed on Belarusian territory remain on the ground during the Ukrainian delegation’s travel, talks, and return,” he continued.
Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S., said Zelensky “was focused on the diplomatic solution” from the beginning in an appearance on ABC.
After Ukraine agrees to meet with Russian negotiators at Belarus border, Ukrainian Ambassador @OMarkarova says Pres. Zelenskyy has always called for diplomatic solution.
“He always said, we are ready for peace talks. We are not ready to surrender.” https://t.co/eRr5DqT33f pic.twitter.com/q3rhF0Hlkt
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 27, 2022
Later in the day, Zelensky expressed doubts that the negotiations would be successful but said he agreed to the talks so that “not a single citizen of Ukraine has any doubt that I, as president, tried to stop the war.”
“I do not really believe in the outcome of this meeting, but let them try. So that later not a single citizen of Ukraine has any doubt that I, as president, tried to stop the war, when there was even a small, but still a chance,” he said in a video address, according to the New York Post.
"We will fight as long as it takes to liberate the county… glory to Ukraine"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says attacks from Russia have been "brutal" and has rejected the offer of peace talks being held in Belarushttps://t.co/sZl7q7NPMp pic.twitter.com/L2DqYMVAWU
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) February 27, 2022
Zelensky had previously turned down the suggestion of holding peace talks in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin placing nuclear forces on “special regime of combat duty” Sunday, according to The Associated Press.
Peace talks are currently underway in Belarus even after Putin’s threat of nuclear war.
Video confirmation of 🇺🇦🇷🇺 peace talks. @ukr_now pic.twitter.com/pHxtd4PBaL
— Alec Luhn (@AlecLuhn) February 28, 2022
The best cast scenario is a productive diplomatic session where both sides come to an agreement on exactly how military conflict can come to an end. There’s already too much death and destruction — the last thing the world needs is another war.
Author: Anna Taylor
