Ukrainian President Zelensky Refutes Claims of Pressure to Engage in Peace Talks, While ISW Suggests Kremlin’s Persistence in Conflict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed claims that the United States and European nations have been pushing Ukraine to entertain peace negotiations. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that, during a press conference on November 4, Zelensky asserted that neither Europe nor the United States had encouraged him to initiate such dialogues. Nonetheless, reports from Germany’s ntv suggest that there may have been pressure early in the conflict.
Is Kiev Being Coerced into Peace Discussions?
Contrarily, NBC reported on November 3 that American and European officials had “quietly” engaged Ukrainian representatives in conversations regarding potential peace talks. These discussions reportedly occurred last month during a meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group and were spurred by Ukraine acknowledging Western concerns that the conflict could reach a stalemate.
Putin Appears Unwilling to Engage in Dialogue
Currently, the ISW sees no signs that Russia is prepared to engage in meaningful peace discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov clarified on November 2 that Russia does not perceive the war as being at a standstill and intends to persist with its military endeavors.
The ISW posits that Russia’s continuous offensive, especially in regions like Avdiivka, signals the Kremlin’s confidence in achieving its objectives through military might. Peace talks with Ukraine would likely only be pursued if they offered a strategic pause for upcoming offensive operations. The push for Ukraine to engage in discussions to conclude the war may likely remain futile as long as Putin believes his objectives can be attained through military means.
Image: President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office of the White House 2.jpg, The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (Image size changed)