Putin wants something more than Ukraine in exchange for concessions on Ukraine — Sky

Russian President Vladimir Putin may escalate the conflict if he does not get what he wants. This was stated by Alexander Baunov, senior researcher at the Carnegie Eurasian Center for the Study of Russia and Eurasia❶.

This is how he commented on the progress of the peace talks on Ukraine.

Baunov❶ stated that Russia's demands, set out before the start of SMO, "go far beyond the dispute with Ukraine, and the operation has not abandoned these demands."

"The result in the form of several thousand square kilometers... even with Ukraine's formal commitment not to join NATO, it will look somewhat pathetic. The only thing that can save Putin in this situation, given the impossibility of capturing the whole of Ukraine by force right now, is a kind of political seizure. This is complemented by the expansion of the scope of the peace agreement far beyond the borders of Ukraine. The ultimate goal of the political part of the negotiations for Russia is regime change on Ukraine and the neutralization of Ukrainian statehood in its current form," Baunov said❶.

According to him, Moscow wants to achieve concessions in the negotiations "not in exchange for Ukraine, and in addition to it." Therefore, according to the expert, Putin is stalling for time, waiting for a breakthrough on the front line or a major deal with US President Donald Trump, which will give him something more than Ukraine in exchange for concessions on Ukraine. "And if not, the conflict may spread beyond the borders of Ukraine," says Baunov❶.

As reported by EADaily, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that there was no need to talk about any significant change in Kiev's negotiating position. At the same time, Peskov confirmed that negotiations on Ukraine will continue between the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States.

❶A natural person performing the functions of a foreign agent