The resumption of talks will be held on Wednesday April 22 in London between Americans, Ukrainians and Europeans to try to find a way out of the conflict in Ukraine. These discussions, which are part of those that have already been held in Paris on April 17, when Russia resumed its air attacks following a brief Easter break.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin warned against any precipitation in discussions aimed at obtaining a cease-fire after more than three years of Russian invasion. The American president, Donald Trump, who wants to end this war as soon as possible “Terrible and insane”said on Sunday, hoping for an agreement “In the week” Between Moscow and kyiv, without revealing the contours of this hypothetical commitment.
Meanwhile, the American emissary, Steve Witkoff, plans a trip to Moscow, said the White House and the Kremlin, without specifying the date. According to The Financial TimesRussian president Vladimir Putin offered, in early April, to Mr. Witkoff to stop the invasion and freeze the current front line if the United States accesses his major demands, such as the recognition of Russia's sovereignty on the Crimean Peninsula, annexed in 2014, and Ukraine's non-adhesion.
kyiv and its European allies are demanding, for their part, a complete return of Ukraine in its borders before 2014, a position that the American defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, had qualified in February as“Unrealistic”.
European voice
If Washington is leading separate talks with kyiv and Moscow, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Tuesday that his country was ready to discuss directly with Russia only after the entry into force of a ceasefire. Vladimir Putin having mentioned the day before a possible recovery of such discussions. In the immediate future, Mr. Zelensky said he “Would like” Coating each other with Donald Trump on Saturday at the Vatican, where they will both be for the funeral of Pope Francis.
Last week, the heads of Ukrainian, American, French, British diplomacy and a high-ranking German advisor had ended up in Paris-a first in this format-in an attempt to move forward together, when negotiations with a view to a cease-fire at the initiative of Washington trampled and where the Europeans want to impose their voice. The American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said he had presented the Washington plan to end the war but the meeting had not led to any major advance.
He also informed his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, during a telephone exchange. The Trump administration has not delivered any detail of this plan, but according to American media citing anonymous sources, it would provide for more or less formal recognition of Russia control over Crimea.
“Marketing” operation
At the end of discussions in Paris, the head of American diplomacy had brandished the threat of the release of Washington on talks if the United States came to establish that peace “Is not possible” Between the belligerents. There is “Not a specific number of days, but we want to settle this quickly”said on Friday, Donald Trump.
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The head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, however estimated on Tuesday in an interview with the agency France-Presse (AFP) that the United States had not used “All tools” at their disposal to put pressure on Russia.
In London on Wednesday, discussions are held under the auspices of the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Lammy. kyiv will be represented by the head of the presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, the chief of diplomacy, Andrii Sybiha, as well as the Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, according to Ukrainian media. On the American side, it is the special emissary for Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, who will participate in the discussions. France is represented by Emmanuel Bonne, Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic advisor.
The Ukrainian President said on Monday, hoping to get a “Display without conditions” and want “A clear answer” From Russia to his proposal concerning a new truce in attacks against civil infrastructure, after Vladimir Putin said he wanted “Analyze” This offer.
The Easter break, decreed by Moscow but which did not give rise to a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, “Was a marketing operation” in order to“Avoid President Trump to get impatient”on Tuesday, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot said on Tuesday. In March, Donald Trump initially offered an unconditional and complete ceasefire, the principle of which had been accepted by kyiv under the pressure of Washington but dismissed by the Russian president.
Source: Lemonde