Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed placing Ukraine under UN control as part of efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Speaking to the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine in a broadcast Friday morning, Putin reiterated his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to negotiate a peace deal.
According to the Ukrainian constitution, holding national elections during martial law is illegal.
Putin noted that any agreement signed with the current Ukrainian leadership could be challenged by its successors, adding that new elections could be organised under external control.
“Under the auspices of the UN, with the United States, even with European countries and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could consider the possibility of introducing temporary management in Ukraine,” Putin said.
He added that this would create conditions for “holding democratic elections, forming an effective government that enjoys the confidence of the people, and then starting negotiations on a peace agreement.”
He also noted that such external management is only “one of the options,” but did not go into details.
Putin's statement came shortly after the end of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to support a potential peace deal.
Macron said “several” other countries were interested in participating in the force, along with France and Britain.
Russia has warned that it will not accept any troops from NATO countries into any future peacekeeping force.
Macron and other participants in the Paris summit on Thursday accused Russia of only pretending to seek a negotiated settlement.
“They are stalling for time and playing games,” said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“We cannot allow them to drag this process out while continuing to prosecute for illegal entry.”
Russia and Ukraine reached a tentative U.S.-brokered agreement to halt attacks on energy infrastructure but quickly began accusing each other of violations, underscoring the difficulties of negotiations over a broader peace.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
