Russia warned Tuesday that any potential peace agreement should guarantee its “security” and those of Russian -speaking residents in Ukraine, a pretext already brandished to launch its invasion in 2022, before a videoconferencing meeting of the kyiv allies to evoke the protection of their partner.
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The American president, Donald Trump, who wants to find a way out of war as soon as possible, met his Russian counterpart on Friday, Vladimir Putin on Friday, then Monday the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by European leaders in the White House.
The prospect of a peace in Ukraine remains uncertain, and the disagreements are numerous.
The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, said in an interview on Russian television that an agreement should imperatively “respect the security interests of Russia” thus “the rights of the Russians who live in Ukraine”.
These arguments had been used by Russia to justify its invasion of February 2022. Vladimir Putin then explained that it had the aim of “demilitarizing” and “strolling” Ukraine, but also to protect the Russian -speaking east from a “genocide”, an unfounded accusation.
The “coalition of volunteers”, around thirty mainly European countries supporting Ukraine, meets on Tuesday to talk about security guarantees, but for kyiv.
Ukraine considers that, even if an outcome is found in this war, Russia will still try to invade it.
French president Emmanuel Macron announced the holding of consultations around 12 noon (10 H GMT) of “30 countries working on security guarantees, to keep them informed of what was decided” at the end of the summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
London confirmed that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer would co -resist the videoconference with Mr. Macron.
Donald Trump assured on Monday, without going into details, that the United States “would be involved” in the future security of Ukraine, promising a “very good protection”.
Dating Putin-Zelensky
Donald Trump must start the preparations for a meeting between MM. Zelensky and Putin.
The Russian president finally accepted the principle of this meeting, which should be held in two weeks, during a telephone interview on Monday with his American counterpart.
Mr. Zelensky confirmed to be ready there too.
The possible territorial concessions required by Russia to Ukraine to put an end to the conflict are “a question that we will leave between me and Putin,” he added.
Donald Trump said on his social social network that it would be followed by a tripartite meeting with himself.
Russian diplomacy chief Sergei Lavrov, however, said on Tuesday that such a meeting should be prepared “very carefully”.
Mr. Macron estimated that she should take place in Europe, for example in Switzerland.
In another interview with the American channel NBC News, Mr. Macron did not hide that he did not share Donald Trump’s optimism on the possibility of arriving at a peace agreement in Ukraine and warned against any “naive”.
Vladimir Putin is “a predator, an ogre at our doors” who “needs to continue to eat (for) his own survival”, he said, “it is a threat to Europeans”.
Territorial concessions
In eastern Ukraine, which concentrates the worst fighting, the inhabitants admitted to having so little hope.
Vladimir Putin “violated all the agreements he signed, so we cannot trust him,” soldier Vitaly, 45, told AFP.
And if Ukraine gives up territories to have peace, Russia will again attack “in six months or a year,” he added.
In Moscow, the tone was more enthusiastic.
“I am sure that the conflict will end,” said Roman, a 39 -year -old musician.
Another resident, Ksenia, who did not want to give her family name, said that Russia should keep the lands conquered in Ukraine.
“People shed their blood for this earth, so it is us,” she said.
Moscow requires Ukraine to give up parts of its territory and refuse any security of security passing through NATO and its collective defense mechanism, article 5.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also present Monday at the White House, estimated that Ukraine should not be forced to make territorial concessions within the framework of a possible peace agreement.
Beijing said on Tuesday “supporting all efforts” towards peace, advocating “dialogue and negotiation”, as “the only viable path to resolve the Ukrainian crisis”.
