US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia for consultations to end the war in Ukraine, and Kiev was seen from afar.
The talks are surrounded by both sides as “exploratory”, but it is already clear that Moscow is claiming an unacceptable situation for Ukraine and its allies.
This sees some of the important demands outlined by Russia’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, on Monday.
Ukraine to give up more territory: Nebenja told the UN Security Council that some of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and four other regions, has been “irreparably lost.”
He falsely claimed that the so-called republics of Donetsk and Luhansk people, as well as the areas of Herson and Zaporidia, “have joined the Russian Federation.” He had mentioned a referendum held by authorities set up in Russia throughout the occupied territories, which have been widely accused of Siam by Ukraine and its western allies.
Russia currently accounts for around 99% of the Luhansk region, 70% of the Donetsk region and about 75% of both the Herson region and Zaporidia region, according to the WAR Institute, a US-based conflict monitor. Nebenja said peace negotiations should “revise” the situation and argue that Ukraine will give up control of some of the four regions not under Russian occupation.
Zelensky’s removal: Nebenzya also revealed that Russia wants to expel Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from his duties. The Russian ambassador called Zelensky “the self-proclaimed president of Ukrainian”, and called his government “the Cabal of Zelensky”, saying neither of them had a “role to play in the new Ukraine.”
Zelensky, a political newcomer at the time, won Ukraine’s 2019 presidential election in a landslide. His mission was supposed to end in May last year, but after Russia launched a full-scale unprovoked invasion in February 2022, Ukraine is currently under martial law, so he is in office. I’m continuing.
“Neutral” Ukraine: Nebenja also said that Ukraine is “a demilitarized neutral state and not part of the bloc or alliance.” Ukraine has long insisted on joining NATO in the future, and the Defense Alliance says the doors are open to any country that wishes to participate, as long as it meets admission criteria.
The EU and the UK have been excluded from consultation: Nebenja also said that the European Union and the UK are “absolutely dishonest” to their words, unable to act as mediators, or part of the Ukrainian agreement. He said. He added that the EU and Britain are “incapable” to reach a deal with Russia, as they are blinded to “primitive Rushphobia.”
