Courtesy of Mish.
Ceasefire or Not?
Earlier today Putin outlined a 7-Point Peace Proposal.
The primary conditions on Mr. Putin’s list are that the separatists halt all offensive operations and that Ukrainian troops move their artillery back out of range of cities and large towns in the rebel-held area.
Mr. Putin also called for Ukraine to cease airstrikes; the establishment of an international monitoring mission and humanitarian aid corridors; an “all for all” prisoner exchange; and “rebuilding brigades” to repair damaged roads, bridges, power lines and other infrastructure.
What’s Not to Like?
Notice that Putin did not demand any territory. Instead, he has proposed a federation in which Eastern Ukraine would remain part of Ukraine.
He also insists, and rightly so, that he cannot force the rebels to do anything.
However, Putin’s plan was immediately slammed by Ukraine’s prime minister Arseny Yatsenyuk who stated “Putin’s real plan is the destruction of Ukraine and the resumption of the U.S.S.R. The best plan to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine would be if Russia withdraws their regular troops, mercenaries and terrorists from Ukrainian territory — then peace will be reinstated in Ukraine.”
Clearly Yatsenyuk is living in fantasyland. Russia is not going to bow down to Ukraine under any circumstances.
Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s press secretary, said separately that Russia could not negotiate a cease-fire because it was not a party to the conflict, but that the opinions of the two presidents overlapped.
“Putin and Poroshenko did indeed discuss steps which could facilitate a cease-fire between the militias and the Ukrainian military,” Mr. Peskov was quoted as saying by the news agency RIA Novosti. “Russia cannot physically agree on a cease-fire, as it is not a side in the conflict.”
Rebel Response
Vladislav Brig, the head of the political department for the rebels’ Ministry of Defense in Donetsk, said in a telephone conversation that combat operations were continuing as usual on Wednesday.
“Nobody is holding negotiations about a cease-fire with the representatives of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” Mr. Brig said. “As long as there are Ukrainian soldiers on our territory, there will be no cease-fire.”
Has Anything Changed?
So… Ukraine wants the rebels to lay down arms and the rebels want Ukraine to do the same. Has anything really changed?…
