Putin criticizes planned peace conference in Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Apr 11th 2024, 22:30
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the planned peace conference in Switzerland. Russia would not be invited there, while at the same time admitting that nothing could be decided without Moscow, Putin told the Interfax news agency at a meeting with Belarus' ruler Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday. "And because we are not going there, it is now being said that we are rejecting negotiations. This is a real panopticon," said the Kremlin leader. On Wednesday, however, the Russian embassy in Bern announced that Russia would not attend the meeting even if invited.
According to Putin, Ukraine maneuvered itself into a corner by breaking off negotiations two years ago - shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression. The other side had thought that Russia could be defeated on the battlefield. However, this turned out to be impossible. Russia is prepared to negotiate, but not over schemes "that have nothing to do with reality", said Putin.
Among other things, the so-called peace formula of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to be negotiated in Switzerland. He had demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from all occupied territories in Ukraine. Moscow, on the other hand, is insisting on peace on its own terms. This includes the retention of previous conquests, Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership and a powerful army. There may also be further demands for territory to be ceded to Russia.
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