Validate Russian Territorial Violations for Peace

"We have never refused to negotiate."

"We are seeking a comprehensive, sustainable and just settlement of this conflict through peaceful means."

"We are open to a dialogue on Ukraine, but such negotiations must take into account the interests of all countries involved in the conflict, including ours."

"[A Chinese proposal (2023) which Ukraine and the West rejected, could] lay the groundwork for a political and diplomatic process that would take into account Russia's security concerns and contribute to achieving a long-term and sustainable peace."

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Reuters

Who cares to dispute that Moscow has been prepared for well over a year to engage in 'peace talks', to end the conflict it unilaterally imposed on Ukraine? Infamously its offers to withdraw troops were always linked to demands that there be no repercussions for Russia which was only, after all, securing its security in the face of a dominating neo-Nazi ideology that was rife through Ukraine threatening stability in Russia. One of the primary conditions was that Russia would retain its holdings in the one-fifth of Ukraine it held, as part of Greater Russia.

 

Ukraine thought otherwise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy counter-proposed that the Kremlin should pull out its troops, to make an end to the 'Special Military operation', and be prepared as well to foot reparations as a penalty for destroying an enormous amount of civil infrastructure in Ukraine, release all Ukrainian prisoners and recant its vile claims of fascist Ukraine, when in fact, it has been Russia whose moves stem from a deep-seated fascist motivation.

 

Workers repair part of a damaged thermal power plant, one of the country's largest, recently destroyed by Russian missiles near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on April 12, 2024.

On a two-day trip to Beijing, and interviewed by the official Xinhua News Agency, Mr. Putin's sanctimony reflected in the nobility of Russia's determination to combat the Nazis administering the affairs of the embattled Ukraine appealed to reasonableness in that peace is always preferential to war, but there are occasions when a nation's leadership, viewing the danger from without, must take steps to stem the tide of burgeoning fascism before it infected its own nation.

 

Ukraine committed itself entirely and without equivocation to democracy. Its bid to join the European Union and ultimately NATO, allows it entree only because it has converted itself entirely to democracy with a primary intention to defeat its traditional role as one of Russia's  subservient lapdogs, leaving behind the national humiliation of being a shadow country in thrall to Communist Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whose battered country is now in dire straits with a serious shortage of badly needed munitions against the Russian juggernaut, insists any negotiations must see a complete restoration of his country's territorial integrity; withdrawal of Russian troops, release of all prisoners, the striking of a tribunal for those responsible for the aggression, and security guarantees for his country.

Putin, calculating as ever, poses as the more meritorious of the two belligerents by suing for a peace he very well knows he has no intention of honouring without his demands being met with no equivocation. Meaning that he feels completely entitled to come away with the conquest of Ukrainian territory that he has achieved. Beijing has made common cause with Moscow, claiming neutrality, but clearly supporting Russia's claim of having been forced by manipulations of the West into the position of defending Russia.

During the two leaders' (Putin and Xi Jinping) discussions "a detailed discussion (took place) on the entire range of issues related to the comprehensive partnership and strategic co-operation and (to) determine the new directions for further development of cooperation between Russia and China". Beijing is completely and serenely complicit in the scenario of Putin claiming that history places Ukraine in Russia's inner orbit. Precisely the argument of historical 'ownership' Xi advances on Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Putin's strategic and territorial interests continue to expand Russia's holdings in eastern Ukraine with the Kharkiv region threatened, and Russian troops moving in to capture villages whose residents have fled the conflict for safety elsewhere.

Air raid alert across several Ukrainian regions

This map shows much of eastern Ukraine is under an air raid alert currently.

"Air defence is working, do not leave shelters and be careful" -- Kharkiv governor Oleh Synehubov warned, on Telegram.