Screenshot of the video by BelTA
MINSK, 23 April (BelTA) – Russia and the USA seek to achieve a full-fledged and comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, but the territorial issue remains unresolved, Doctor of Historical Sciences Nikolai Platoshkin said in the latest episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA's YouTube channel.
“As Peskov has said, the negotiations are difficult. We should not expect too much from them. It seems to me that the negotiations began with one thing and ended with something else. As far as the ceasefire talks are concerned, it was proposed to cease fire for 30 days. In line with this scenario, the hostilities will stop for a while and then resume,” said Nikolai Platoshkin.
The expert noted that a full-fledged and comprehensive ceasefire is on the agenda now: “The main stumbling block here is the territorial issue. Trump's envoy at the negotiations, Witkoff, said that the peace deal is about five territories. We can assume that these are the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the two people's republics and Crimea. Moreover, Zelensky indirectly confirmed this, saying that Witkoff is communicating Russia’s position.”
According to Nikolai Platoshkin, the parties agreed for now to stay at the current frontlines. The territories behind the frontlines are to become part of Russia, but things are not that simple here, either. “What we proclaimed as our territories - Kherson Oblast or Zaporozhye Oblast - are partly under control of Ukraine. They [the Ukrainian authorities] think that they will keep these territories, but in exchange for that, Russia will cease military actions. The Americans (and the entire West, probably) will recognize Crimea as an integral part of Russia. Apparently, this is where everything is going,” the expert added.
“As Peskov has said, the negotiations are difficult. We should not expect too much from them. It seems to me that the negotiations began with one thing and ended with something else. As far as the ceasefire talks are concerned, it was proposed to cease fire for 30 days. In line with this scenario, the hostilities will stop for a while and then resume,” said Nikolai Platoshkin.
The expert noted that a full-fledged and comprehensive ceasefire is on the agenda now: “The main stumbling block here is the territorial issue. Trump's envoy at the negotiations, Witkoff, said that the peace deal is about five territories. We can assume that these are the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the two people's republics and Crimea. Moreover, Zelensky indirectly confirmed this, saying that Witkoff is communicating Russia’s position.”
According to Nikolai Platoshkin, the parties agreed for now to stay at the current frontlines. The territories behind the frontlines are to become part of Russia, but things are not that simple here, either. “What we proclaimed as our territories - Kherson Oblast or Zaporozhye Oblast - are partly under control of Ukraine. They [the Ukrainian authorities] think that they will keep these territories, but in exchange for that, Russia will cease military actions. The Americans (and the entire West, probably) will recognize Crimea as an integral part of Russia. Apparently, this is where everything is going,” the expert added.
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