Putin suggests temporary administration for Ukraine to end war
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was steadily moving towards the achievement of its goals in the conflict.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Ukraine be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords to reach a settlement in the war, Russian news agencies reported early on March 28.
Mr Putin’s comments, during a visit to the northern port of Murmansk, come amid US attempts to forge a settlement to the conflict by re-establishing links with Russia and engaging with both Moscow and Kyiv, in separate talks.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
Mr Putin’s suggestion of a temporary administration appeared to address his long-held complaint that Ukraine’s authorities are not a legitimate negotiating partner, as President Volodymyr Zelensky has stayed in power beyond the May 2024 end of his mandate.
“In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the US, European countries and our partners,” Mr Putin was quoted as saying in talks with seamen at the port.
“This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people, and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty.”
He said US President Donald Trump’s efforts to proceed with direct talks with Russia – in contrast with his predecessor Joe Biden, who shunned contacts – showed the new US leader wanted peace.
“In my opinion, the newly elected President of the United States sincerely wants an end to the conflict for a number of reasons,” the agencies quoted him as saying.
When asked about Mr Putin’s remarks on temporary administration, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said that governance in Ukraine was determined by its Constitution and the people of the country.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
European leaders have pressed on with their own efforts, pledging after a meeting in Paris on March 27 to strengthen Kyiv’s army to ensure it was the cornerstone of future security in Ukraine.
France and Britain tried to expand support for a foreign “reassurance force”
Ukraine rejects notion of illegitimacy
Mr Zelensky has rejected any notion questioning his legitimacy, saying Ukraine is barred from holding elections under martial law and holding polls in wartime conditions would in any case prove impossible.
He has repeatedly accused Mr Putin in recent days of wanting to press on with the conflict.
The US has proposed a new, more expansive minerals deal with Ukraine, according to three people familiar with the negotiations and a summary of a draft proposal obtained by Reuters.
Mr Trump has said a minerals deal will help secure a peace agreement by giving the US a financial stake in Ukraine’s future.
In his comments, Mr Putin said Russia was steadily moving forward to achieve the goals it had set out in its Ukraine operation.
Russia was in favour of “peaceful solutions to any conflict, including this one, through peaceful means, but not at our expense”, he said.
“Throughout the entire line of military contact, our troops are holding the strategic initiative,” he added.
“We are gradually – perhaps not as quickly as some might like – but still persistently and with confidence moving towards achieving the goals set out at the beginning of this operation,” the agencies quoted him as saying.
More than three years after launching their invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces now hold about 20 per cent of the country, with Moscow declaring four regions annexed.
Its forces have also recovered much of the territory it initially lost in a Ukrainian incursion in August 2024 into its western Kursk region.
Mr Putin praised the efforts in seeking a solution from the Brics grouping it promotes as an alternative to traditional alliances – singling out China and India for praise.
He also said Russia was ready to cooperate with many countries, including North Korea, to help end the war in Ukraine.
Western and Ukrainian sources say more than 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent
Mr Putin said Russia was also ready to work with Europe, but added that Europe “conducts itself in inconsistent fashion”.
European countries, he said, were trying to “lead us around by the nose, but it’s okay, we’ve become used to it. I hope that we won’t make any mistakes based on excessive trust in our so-called partners”. REUTERS
