Treachery Continues to Characterize NATO Countries' Call for Ceasefire
Istanbul talks, May 16,
2025
Despite the fact that peace talks between Ukraine and Russia started in mid-May in Istanbul, thus far all they have given rise to is a successful prisoner exchange which started on June 9: 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners for 1,000 Russian prisoners. This decision was taken at the talks in Istanbul conducted on June 2.
On May 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed restarting direct negotiations with Ukraine on May 15 "without preconditions." The leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland, meeting in Kiev, had issued an ultimatum to Russia on May 10 for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, saying they had the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, and threatened Russia with stepped-up sanctions if it did not submit.
This was not agreed to by Putin who pointed out that the sole aim of the proposal was to permit Ukraine time to recoup and rearm.
"We are committed to serious negotiations with Ukraine," Putin said, adding that agreeing to a ceasefire later, in the course of direct talks with Ukraine, would not be ruled out. He said that Russia needs a truce that would lead to a "lasting peace" instead of one that would allow Ukraine to rearm and mobilize more men into its armed forces. Russia recalls that during the 2015 Minsk Accords, rather than working for peace and de-escalation, NATO countries treacherously used this period to buy time to arm Ukraine for purposes of provoking a military conflict. NATO countries similarly sabotaged peace negotiations in April 2022.
Recent events indicate that treachery continues to characterize the role of the U.S. and NATO amidst the current peace talks.
On June 1, the day before a second round of talks was to take place in Istanbul, Ukraine carried out lethal drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, including its eastern seaboard city, Vladivostok. Prior to this, Ukraine was under direction from NATO to limit its attacks to only border regions of Russia.
Former marine intelligence officer Scott Ritter points out that Ukraine would not have been able to carry out the drone attack without U.S. intelligence data, a view confirmed by former high-ranking French army officer Guillaume Ansel who told Le Monde. "This is possible and conceivable only with satellite communications support. The Ukrainians do not have such systems and, if they managed to operate them remotely, then, undoubtedly, it was with U.S. support."
During the June 2 talks, Russia laid out two options for a ceasefire, the news agency Sputnik reported.
"Option 1: The beginning of the complete withdrawal of the Ukrainian armed forces and other military formations of Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation, including the DPR [Donetsk People's Republic], LPR [Lugansk (also known as Luhansk) People's Republic], Zaporozhye [Zaporizhzhia] and Kherson regions, and their withdrawal to a distance agreed by the Parties from the borders of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the approved Regulation."
The second option, referred to as a package deal, "requires the demobilization of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and halting all foreign military aid to the Ukraine regime, including intelligence."
Russia reiterated its demands in the negotiations, namely:
- "International legal recognition of Crimea, LPR, DPR, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions as part of Russia; complete withdrawal of units of the Ukrainian armed forces and other paramilitary formations of Ukraine from their territories."
- Ukraine's Neutrality, Non-Entry Into Military Blocs: "Ukraine's neutrality entails its refusal to join military alliances and coalitions, along with a prohibition on any military activities by third states within its territory. This includes limits "on the number of the Ukrainian armed forces and other Ukrainian military units, the maximum number of weapons and military equipment and their acceptable limits; dissolution of Ukrainian nationalist units within the Ukrainian armed forces and the National Guard."
- No Third Countries' Troops in Ukraine: "Exclusion of the military presence of third countries on Ukrainian territory, cessation of participation of foreign specialists in military actions on Ukraine's side, guarantees of Ukraine's refusal to conduct sabotage and subversive operations against Russia and its citizens," the document read.
- Guaranteeing Rights of Russian-Speaking Population: "Key parameters of a final settlement... Ensuring the full rights, freedoms, and interests of the Russian and Russian-speaking population; granting the Russian language official status," the document stated.
- Ban on Glorification of Nazism: "The main parameters of the final settlement ... Legislative prohibition of glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism, dissolution of nationalist organizations and parties."
Role of European NATO Countries to "Broker" Ceasefire
Russia, in proceeding with the peace talks on May 15 and June 2, called the bluff of the U.S., UK, France, Germany and Poland who had given a May 10 ultimatum that Russia comply with a 30-day unconditional ceasefire or else face even more severe sanctions. The ultimatum was issued the day after Russia marked the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism in Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron said at that time, "In the event of a violation of this ceasefire, we have agreed that massive sanctions will be prepared and coordinated between Europeans and Americans."
Macron said the ceasefire would be mainly monitored by the U.S. but that "Europeans will contribute." He claimed that imposing this "truce" on Russia would pave the way for "immediate work and negotiations with parties involved to build a robust and lasting peace."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "The position we've now got to today is absolute unity across a whole range of countries around the world, including the United States, that there must be that 30-day unconditional ceasefire."
Some 20 other countries took part in a video conference with the UK, France, Germany and Poland on this matter on May 10. With typical chauvinism against those who do not support U.S./NATO warmongering, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said of this small number of countries, "For the first time in a long time we had a feeling that the whole free world is truly united."
The attempt by these countries to use threats and ultimatums to impose a ceasefire, which can only be meaningfully reached through negotiations that serve the interests of both sides, is an irreconcilable contradiction. It is no surprise that Russia simply declined to take up this "offer" and instead has proceeded straightforwardly with direct peace talks with Ukraine, despite this interference from the European NATO countries and the so-called coalition of the willing.
This article was published in
Volume 55 Number 6 - June 2025
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2025/Articles/M5500613.HTM
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