Putin proposes an interim government in Ukraine under UN supervision

BarcelonaVladimir Putin is trying to impose his roadmap to end the war in Ukraine. Now he is suggesting that Volodymyr Zelensky resign and that the country be run by an interim government under UN auspices. The goal of this government would be to hold "democratic elections" and "bring to power a government capable of enjoying the trust of the people," and ultimately "begin talks on a peace treaty."

"In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries, and our partners," Putin said around midnight in an informal conversation with sailors in Murmansk, the main Russian port in the circle. The Russian president cited as an example the interim governments with UN supervision that were created in the former Yugoslavia or East Timor.

The White House has initially expressed its opposition. A spokesperson for the National Security Council simply responded that "governance in Ukraine is determined by its Constitution and its population." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that this issue was not discussed in the call between the Russian president and Donald Trump on March 18. The European Union has also dismissed the Russian proposal, citing Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho, who stated that "until the Ukrainian people demand elections, no one else should offer them."

Putin has long insisted on the alleged "illegitimacy" of Zelensky, who, in his view, has exhausted his mandate, but now he is going a step further and including the international community in his attempt to overthrow him. Elections in Ukraine were supposed to have been held in the spring of 2024, although the constitution provides for them to be postponed if martial law is in effect, as is the case. From the Arctic, the Kremlin leader stated that his concern lies in the fact that "neo-Nazi groups" like the Azov Battalion are seizing power in Kiev and that "there is no one to sign anything with, since other leaders will come tomorrow."

This direct attack on the figure of the Ukrainian president comes after Zelensky challenged Putin by dropping the hint that "he will die soon." In an interview on Eurovision News this Wednesday, the Ukrainian leader assured that "it is a fact" and that then "everything will be over." "I am younger than Putin, bet on me, I have better prospects." It also takes place a few hours after European governments met in Paris with the president of Ukraine and They will guarantee support and the deployment of a peacekeeping force to supervise a possible ceasefire on Ukrainian territory..

In recent days, the Kremlin has been at pains to highlight Kiev's alleged inability to negotiate, accusing its army day in and day out of violating the ceasefire agreement on energy infrastructure. This Friday, the Ministry of Defense again denounced a drone attack on a gas facility in the Kursk region and another attempted attack on an oil refinery in Saratov, in the south of the country, and the Kremlin threatened to break the agreement if the Ukrainian air force does not stop.

Putin also wanted to make it clear that he is approaching eventual talks for a resolution to the conflict from a position of strength. "Along the entire military line of contact, our troops maintain the strategic initiative," he stated, "we are gradually (perhaps not as quickly as some would like) but persistently and confidently moving toward achieving the objectives set at the beginning of this operation."

The Russian president continues to show his willingness to seek peace in Ukraine and is open to working toward it with other countries, including European countries, although he has not been one to criticize them once again. "They take us for a ride, but it doesn't matter, we've gotten used to it. I hope we don't make any more mistakes based on excessive trust in those who call themselves partners."

This Friday, Putin spoke by telephone with another key international player, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. According to a statement from the Turkish government, Erdoğan offered "full support" for an agreement in Ukraine, "including the organization of negotiations." Turkey already hosted the first unsuccessful peace talks between Moscow and Kiev on March 29, 2022. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has explained that they "discussed the resumption of the grain deal" because Turkey also played a key role in the first truce in 2002. _SLT_LNA~