It’s possible that Putin’s spokesman was signaling that one, some, or all of the major terms stipulated in spring 2022’s peace deal are no longer relevant as regards the endgame that Russia has in mind.
To be fair though President Putin laid out the new terms acceptable to Russia in June 2024 in which he said that those accords were no longer acceptable and Russias demands had since changed to reflect how that agreement was scuppered by Boris etc and that Zelensky then went on to say that he only agreed to it in order to play for time and to get Russia to withdraw from around Kiev which they did as a matter of good faith and in addition to that the changing reality on the ground; this has been reiterated by many of the Kremlins major players including Lavrov, Peskov et al… indeed they have all gone on to say that those June 24 demands have since changed with the realities on the ground and actions of others from Ukraine and the West.
I see what you're saying and it's not factually incorrect, but I don't consider those changes to be as significant as what I believe that Peskov is implying about a potential revision of Istanbul's three pillars regarding constitutional change, demilitarization, and security guarantees:
Also, technically, he didn't repudiate the Istanbul Accords in June 2024 but reaffirmed them:
"I repeat our firm stance: Ukraine should adopt a neutral, non-aligned status, be nuclear-free, and undergo demilitarisation and denazification. These parameters were broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022, including specific details on demilitarisation such as the agreed numbers of tanks and other military equipment. We reached consensus on all points."
It's my understanding that what Putin's spokesperson meant is that the 4 new regions will remain part of Russia. Something that wasn't part of a deal back in 2022.
What influenced me to conclude that he's signaling openness to significant compromises is what Russia's top expert Fyodor Lukyankov revealed in a recent interview at around 35:42 here:
He's also one of Putin's friends, his advisor too actually, and moderates his annual Q&A at the Valdai Club's gathering every fall. Lukyankov is therefore a very reliable expert and his views on the "Spirit of Anchorage" are enlightening.
According to him, "Russia agreed to stop military operation, big military operation in case Ukraine leaves the whole territory of Donbas. And Trump apparently agreed to that and said, "Okay, I will work with the Ukrainian side." And since that nothing happened."
It's unreasonable to believe that someone like Lukyanov would just make up something so extremely sensitive about a major Russian compromise, actually a series of compromises since Putin reportedly told Trump that he'd end the SMO if he gets the rest of Donbass.
Peskov, being Putin's spokesman, might therefore be tasked with gradually getting the public comfortable with this, ergo what he just said about the Istanbul Accords and my analysis thereof.
Why mention the Uk & Poland??? Neither counts for much . Russia is the power and it's wishes will be met. Russians & Ukrainians are IDENTICAL as any 2 people can be. Ukraine is not a nationality it simply means BORDERLAND , no more.
I don't think the Ukraine nationalist would agree with you Walter and there in lays the problem whilst the West continues to supply corruption accessible money for powerful people in Ukraine to feed from the Ukraine will keep fighting whether it is borderland or Malorossiya or Ukraine till there is no person to stand in front of Russia's army.
To be fair though President Putin laid out the new terms acceptable to Russia in June 2024 in which he said that those accords were no longer acceptable and Russias demands had since changed to reflect how that agreement was scuppered by Boris etc and that Zelensky then went on to say that he only agreed to it in order to play for time and to get Russia to withdraw from around Kiev which they did as a matter of good faith and in addition to that the changing reality on the ground; this has been reiterated by many of the Kremlins major players including Lavrov, Peskov et al… indeed they have all gone on to say that those June 24 demands have since changed with the realities on the ground and actions of others from Ukraine and the West.
I see what you're saying and it's not factually incorrect, but I don't consider those changes to be as significant as what I believe that Peskov is implying about a potential revision of Istanbul's three pillars regarding constitutional change, demilitarization, and security guarantees:
https://korybko.substack.com/p/whats-really-behind-putins-generous
Also, technically, he didn't repudiate the Istanbul Accords in June 2024 but reaffirmed them:
"I repeat our firm stance: Ukraine should adopt a neutral, non-aligned status, be nuclear-free, and undergo demilitarisation and denazification. These parameters were broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022, including specific details on demilitarisation such as the agreed numbers of tanks and other military equipment. We reached consensus on all points."
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74285
In Russia's best interest as he understands them to be, oh the soul of a diplomat you have Andrew I love it. Hahaha!
Russian dithering, indecision and incompetence have led to this.
It's my understanding that what Putin's spokesperson meant is that the 4 new regions will remain part of Russia. Something that wasn't part of a deal back in 2022.
What influenced me to conclude that he's signaling openness to significant compromises is what Russia's top expert Fyodor Lukyankov revealed in a recent interview at around 35:42 here:
https://youtu.be/nrMev5GJDd4?t=2144
He's also one of Putin's friends, his advisor too actually, and moderates his annual Q&A at the Valdai Club's gathering every fall. Lukyankov is therefore a very reliable expert and his views on the "Spirit of Anchorage" are enlightening.
According to him, "Russia agreed to stop military operation, big military operation in case Ukraine leaves the whole territory of Donbas. And Trump apparently agreed to that and said, "Okay, I will work with the Ukrainian side." And since that nothing happened."
It's unreasonable to believe that someone like Lukyanov would just make up something so extremely sensitive about a major Russian compromise, actually a series of compromises since Putin reportedly told Trump that he'd end the SMO if he gets the rest of Donbass.
Peskov, being Putin's spokesman, might therefore be tasked with gradually getting the public comfortable with this, ergo what he just said about the Istanbul Accords and my analysis thereof.
Why mention the Uk & Poland??? Neither counts for much . Russia is the power and it's wishes will be met. Russians & Ukrainians are IDENTICAL as any 2 people can be. Ukraine is not a nationality it simply means BORDERLAND , no more.
I don't think the Ukraine nationalist would agree with you Walter and there in lays the problem whilst the West continues to supply corruption accessible money for powerful people in Ukraine to feed from the Ukraine will keep fighting whether it is borderland or Malorossiya or Ukraine till there is no person to stand in front of Russia's army.
Thanks for your great work Andrew!
We've restacked and shared this link on 'The Stacks'
https://askeptic.substack.com/p/the-stacks