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| Ukraine conflict could have ended in weeks – Russia’s top negotiator | Ukraine conflict could have ended in weeks – Russia’s top negotiator |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The West’s interference in other nations’ affairs has already brought grave consequences to Europe, Vladimir Medinsky has said | The West’s interference in other nations’ affairs has already brought grave consequences to Europe, Vladimir Medinsky has said |
| The Ukraine conflict could have ended very quickly if Kiev had chosen to negotiate from the beginning rather than heed its Western backers and fight Russia, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow’s delegation at the Istanbul talks, has said. | The Ukraine conflict could have ended very quickly if Kiev had chosen to negotiate from the beginning rather than heed its Western backers and fight Russia, Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow’s delegation at the Istanbul talks, has said. |
| Medinsky made the comments after nearly two hours of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Friday. The two nations agreed upon a major prisoner swap involving 1,000 POWs from each side, as well as continuing contacts once each side has prepared a detailed ceasefire proposal, the Russian delegation said. | Medinsky made the comments after nearly two hours of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Friday. The two nations agreed upon a major prisoner swap involving 1,000 POWs from each side, as well as continuing contacts once each side has prepared a detailed ceasefire proposal, the Russian delegation said. |
| After the meeting, the presidential aide and professional historian sat down for an interview with Russia’s Channel 1. | |
| Quick way out | Quick way out |
| The hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, which have already dragged on for more than three years, could have ended in mere weeks, Medinsky believes. Ukraine just needed to stick to the arrangements it had reached with Russia during the initial rounds of peace talks in Gomel, Belarus in late February, he stated. | The hostilities between Moscow and Kiev, which have already dragged on for more than three years, could have ended in mere weeks, Medinsky believes. Ukraine just needed to stick to the arrangements it had reached with Russia during the initial rounds of peace talks in Gomel, Belarus in late February, he stated. |
| Kiev could have “agreed to a peace in late February [2022], but they did not and dragged their feet instead,” the official said. The Russian peace proposal presented at the following round of talks, which was held in Istanbul in spring 2022, was already less favorable to Ukraine, as it already reflected “changes on the ground,” he added. | Kiev could have “agreed to a peace in late February [2022], but they did not and dragged their feet instead,” the official said. The Russian peace proposal presented at the following round of talks, which was held in Istanbul in spring 2022, was already less favorable to Ukraine, as it already reflected “changes on the ground,” he added. |
| “The Istanbul process was also regrettably disrupted because of the West’s direct involvement,” Medinsky stated, blaming then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Kiev in May 2022 for scuttling the initial peace negotiations. According to David Arakhamia, who headed the Ukrainian delegation at that time, Johnson told Kiev to “just fight.” | “The Istanbul process was also regrettably disrupted because of the West’s direct involvement,” Medinsky stated, blaming then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to Kiev in May 2022 for scuttling the initial peace negotiations. According to David Arakhamia, who headed the Ukrainian delegation at that time, Johnson told Kiev to “just fight.” |
| West’s interference in other nations’ affairs is detrimental to Europe | West’s interference in other nations’ affairs is detrimental to Europe |
| Attempts by Western nations to influence other countries’ policies have historically brought catastrophic consequences to the European continent, Medinsky said. He gave the example of the Berlin Congress held in 1878, which was called by a coalition of Western countries to revise the results of the Russian-Turkish war which ended earlier that year. | Attempts by Western nations to influence other countries’ policies have historically brought catastrophic consequences to the European continent, Medinsky said. He gave the example of the Berlin Congress held in 1878, which was called by a coalition of Western countries to revise the results of the Russian-Turkish war which ended earlier that year. |
| Western nations, including the UK, France, Italy, and Germany, thought the peace treaty, which led to the liberation of a number of Balkan nations from Ottoman control, was too favorable to the Russian Empire, as they thought it would give it too much clout over the Balkans. | Western nations, including the UK, France, Italy, and Germany, thought the peace treaty, which led to the liberation of a number of Balkan nations from Ottoman control, was too favorable to the Russian Empire, as they thought it would give it too much clout over the Balkans. |
| As a result of the West’s interference, the borders of the newly-liberated states were redrawn, thus laying the foundation for the territorial disputes that ultimately triggered World War I, Medinsky said. | As a result of the West’s interference, the borders of the newly-liberated states were redrawn, thus laying the foundation for the territorial disputes that ultimately triggered World War I, Medinsky said. |
| “Unregulated problems in the Balkans led to WWI,” he stated. “This was a direct consequence of interference by Western nations.” | “Unregulated problems in the Balkans led to WWI,” he stated. “This was a direct consequence of interference by Western nations.” |
| Kiev’s demands are excessive | Kiev’s demands are excessive |
| Medinsky has dismissed Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire as a precondition for any peace talks as unnecessary and excessive. “A war and talks are being conducted simultaneously,” he said, adding: “Only people who know nothing about history” can claim that a ceasefire has always preceded peace talks. | Medinsky has dismissed Ukraine’s demand for a ceasefire as a precondition for any peace talks as unnecessary and excessive. “A war and talks are being conducted simultaneously,” he said, adding: “Only people who know nothing about history” can claim that a ceasefire has always preceded peace talks. |
| Kiev has repeatedly demanded that Moscow agree to a 30-day ceasefire before any talks take place. Russia has rejected the demand, arguing that Ukraine would use the pause to rearm and regroup its troops. | Kiev has repeatedly demanded that Moscow agree to a 30-day ceasefire before any talks take place. Russia has rejected the demand, arguing that Ukraine would use the pause to rearm and regroup its troops. |