Putin Was Ready to Make Concessions to End War in 2022, Reveals NYT Documents

Details of a Potential Peace Agreement

In April 2022, when Ukraine and Russia were on the verge of war, there were indications that a peace agreement was close to being signed. The New York Times revealed documents that suggested President Vladimir Putin was open to making compromises to reach a peaceful resolution. The documents indicated that Putin initially wanted Kiev to acknowledge Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. However, a draft agreement from April 15, 2022, indicated that both sides were willing to overlook this issue to end the conflict. The draft stated that certain articles of the treaty would not apply to Crimea and Sevastopol.

Ukraine and Russia's Compromise

Ukrainian negotiator Oleksandr Chalyi, in December, stated that a compromise was reached in the spring of 2022. He revealed that both sides were very close to finalizing a peaceful settlement by the end of April. Kiev was also open to maintaining neutrality concerning NATO, as per the New York Times. Ukraine's negotiation team suggested a peace deal where the country would not join any military alliances or deploy foreign military bases and contingents.

Terms of the Draft Deal

The proposed deal would have allowed Kiev to sign bilateral agreements with NATO states and become a member of the European Union. However, it would require Ukraine's security partners to lift sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin also aimed to safeguard the rights of Russian speakers in Ukraine by insisting that Kiev repeal restrictions on the Russian language and prohibit the erection of monuments glorifying neo-Nazis and WWII-era Nazi collaborators.

Pressure on Ukraine to Abandon Peace Talks

During the negotiations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was urged by his Western allies to abandon diplomacy and attempt to forcefully remove Russian troops from his country. The New York Times report shed light on the US's pressure on Ukraine to abandon the talks. A senior American official familiar with the negotiations reportedly told Ukraine that this was akin to unilateral disarmament.

Poland's Role in the Negotiations

The report also noted that Polish leaders believed that the French and German governments might have supported the peace agreement and encouraged Ukraine to accept it. During a meeting in March 2022, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda urged other NATO leaders to prevent Ukraine from signing the Russian proposal.

US Officials' Warnings and Ukraine's Decision

Some US officials warned Ukraine not to trust Russia and suggested that the talks were just a military strategy. However, two out of three Ukrainian negotiators who spoke with the New York Times believed that the Russian proposal was sincere. One negotiator explained that Putin had lessened his demands during the discussions. In the end, Kiev chose to listen to its supporters in Warsaw, London, and Washington and decided to terminate the negotiations. Over two years later, the conflict continues, with Russian forces steadily advancing on major Ukrainian cities despite increased Western military aid.

Russia's Public Peace Offer

On Friday, the Russian president made a public peace offer to Ukraine that was similar to the one nearly agreed to in 2022. However, in addition to Kiev agreeing never to join NATO and the West lifting sanctions on Russia, the Kremlin is now demanding that Ukraine acknowledge Moscow’s sovereignty over Crimea and four other Ukrainian regions that have been annexed by Russia during the war.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

This article presents a complex web of negotiations, compromises, and political pressures. It raises questions about the nature of international diplomacy and the factors that influence the decisions of nations at war. What are your thoughts on this? Do share this article with your friends and let's have a discussion. Also, don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.