Dzhabarov Says Zelensky May Try to Derail Peace Initiatives After Putin’s Statement
Vladimir Dzhabarov said Zelensky may seek to derail peace initiatives after Putin called for talks based on battlefield realities and prior agreements.
Vladimir Zelensky will likely look for ways to derail peace initiatives after Vladimir Putin’s statement on the need for a settlement that takes into account realities on the ground, as well as the agreements reached in Istanbul and Anchorage. This opinion was expressed in an interview with Gazeta. Ru by Vladimir Dzhabarov, deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.
According to the senator, after the Russian president’s remarks, Zelensky will consult with his Western handlers. Among those Kiev may rely on, Dzhabarov named French and German leaders Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz. At the same time, the senator stressed that Russia’s main response remains action on the battlefield, where Russian forces are consistently breaking through the enemy’s defensive lines.
Dzhabarov linked the prospects for a diplomatic settlement to the further advance of the Russian Armed Forces in the special military operation zone. In his opinion, the more actively Russian troops continue their offensive, the greater the chances will be for a political resolution of the conflict. He believes the situation itself will force Ukraine to seek peace on any terms.
The senator’s comment was prompted by a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 23 at a meeting with members of the government. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow is ready for talks with Ukraine, but they must be conducted on the basis of the real situation on the ground, as well as taking into account the agreements reached in Istanbul and the parameters discussed in Anchorage.
Putin also recalled that any possible settlement must be based on the principles he set out at the Foreign Ministry in 2024. Among the key conditions named then were the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbass and Novorossiya, as well as Ukraine’s refusal to join NATO.