Latest news with #neo-Nazism
France 24
12 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
War in Ukraine: What's in the Russian memorandum?
The short peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on Monday lasted about an hour and ended with the announcement of a new exchange of prisoners and the return of the bodies of soldiers who died at the front. However, Moscow did release the memorandum that Russian diplomats had been discussing for several weeks. This document publicly sets out Russia's conditions for ending its military offensive and provides an insight into the Kremlin 's war aims as its "special operation" enters its fourth year. Sent to the Ukrainians at the last minute, it was made public by the Russian press agency Tass. Here are the document's main provisions. Terms of settlement: Russian conditions - Signature of an agreement to implement provisions for a final settlement. - International recognition of Crimea, Donbas and 'Novorossia' ("New Russia", a colonisation project developed in the Russian Empire in the 18th century) as part of Russia. - A guarantee that Ukraine ensure the full rights, freedoms and interests of its Russian speakers. - Designating Russian as an official language of Ukraine. - A legislative ban on any glorification or propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism. - Lifting of all restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. - Ukrainian neutrality, meaning: a pledge not to join military alliances or coalitions and a ban on any military activity by third countries in Ukrainian territory and on the deployment of foreign military forces, military bases or military infrastructure there. - A direct ban on the acceptance, transit or deployment of nuclear weapons in Ukraine. - Caps on the strength of the armed forces, weapons and military equipment. - The lifting of all existing sanctions by Ukraine against Russia and a mandatory pledge not to impose new ones. - The waiver of mutual claims with Ukraine in connection with damage caused by hostilities. -The phased restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with Ukraine, including gas transit. Ceasefire Conditions The document gives Ukraine two ceasefire options: Option 1: - The complete withdrawal of the Ukrainian army from the DPR (Donestk oblast), LPR (Luhansk oblast), and the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. - From the moment the Ukrainian military begins to withdraw from Russian territory, including Donbas and 'Novorossia', a 30-day ceasefire will be established. - The withdrawal must be completed within 30 days of the ceasefire. Option 2: - A ban on the redeployment of the Ukrainian armed forces, except for movements for withdrawal to an agreed distance from the borders of Russia. - All Western arms supply to Ukraine shall be halted; the same applies to the provision of intelligence data. - The military presence of third countries in the territory of Ukraine must be excluded. - Participation of foreign specialists in military operations on behalf of Ukraine must be stopped. - Cancellation of martial law by Kyiv. - A bilateral centre for monitoring and controlling the ceasefire is to be established. - Mobilisation is to be halted and demobilisation begun in Ukraine to achieve a ceasefire. - The document also calls for the dissolution of nationalist formations in Ukraine. - Amnesty for political prisoners. - Release of military personnel and civilians. Terms and procedure for signature of the peace treaty - The 'signing of a memorandum on a ceasefire with specific dates for the implementation of all its provisions and the determination of the date for the signing of a future treaty on a final settlement' will take place after Russia has transferred 6,000 bodies of deceased military personnel to Ukraine. - That done, a 30-day ceasefire is to be established. - Next comes "the holding of elections, the formation of authorities on the territory of Ukraine", followed by "the signing of the treaty". - The Ukrainian authorities must announce the date of the presidential and parliamentary elections, due to take place no later than 100 days after the lifting of martial law. - The peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine shall be approved by a legally binding resolution of the UN Security Council.
3 days ago
- Business
Putin's uncompromising demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Russia took weeks to present to Ukraine with a 'memorandum' setting out its conditions for a ceasefire, as well as key guidelines for a comprehensive treaty to end the more than 3-year-old war. To practically no one's surprise, it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters. Ukraine had set its negotiating stance before Monday's direct peace talks in Istanbul, emphasizing its readiness to declare a 30-day ceasefire immediately without preconditions that was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv reaffirmed its refusal to abandon a bid for NATO membership and rejected acknowledgment of Russia's annexation of any of its regions. Both sides have established mutually exclusive red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Moscow's demands, published in the Russian media, make it clear that President Vladimir Putin is determined to ensure the fulfillment of the goals in Ukraine he set when he launched the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Key points of the Russian and Ukrainian documents: Russia offered Ukraine a choice of two options for establishing a 30-day ceasefire. One option is that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. The second option described by Moscow as the 'package' proposal, presses Ukraine to halt its mobilization efforts and freeze Western arms deliveries — conditions that were suggested earlier by Putin. On top of that, the document also demands that Ukraine begin demobilizing its military, halt any redeployment of forces and ban the presence of any third-country forces on its soil. The 'package' option further proposes that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, after which the two countries could sign a comprehensive peace treaty. The Russian document declares that conditions for peace must include the 'international legal recognition' of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its 2022 annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It says a future peace treaty should have Ukraine declare its neutral status between Russia and the West, and abandon its bid to join NATO. The document demands that Ukraine limit the size of its armed forces, recognize Russian as an official language on par with Ukrainian, ban 'glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism' and dissolve nationalist groups -– conditions reflecting Putin's goals from the outset of his invasion. The false allegations that neo-Nazi groups were shaping Ukraine's politics under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, have been vehemently dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies. In Russia's view, a comprehensive peace treaty should also see both countries lift all sanctions and restrictions, abandon any claims to compensation for wartime damage, resume trade and communications, and reestablish diplomatic ties. It also suggests that the peace treaty between Russian and Ukraine be endorsed by a resolution of the U.N. Security Council. The memorandum that Ukraine submitted to Moscow before the talks and shared with its allies emphasized the need for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to set stage for peace negotiations. It reaffirmed Ukraine's consistent rejection of Russian demands for neutral status as an attack on its sovereignty, declaring it is free to choose its alliances and adding that its NATO membership will depend on consensus with the alliance. It emphasized Kyiv's rejection of any restrictions on the size and other parameters of its armed forces, as well as curbs on the presence of foreign troops on its soil. Ukraine's memorandum also opposed recognizing any Russian territorial gains, while describing the current line of contact as a starting point in negotiations. The document noted the need for international security guarantees to ensure the implementation of peace agreements and prevent further aggression. The Ukrainian peace proposal also demanded the return of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and an 'all-for-all' prisoner exchange. It held the door open to gradual lifting of some of the sanctions against Russia if it abides by the agreeme The sharply conflicting demands leave little hope for any quick progress in talks. By maintaining its maximalist demands, Moscow is seemingly unfazed by repeated threats of sanctions by the West or other pressure to make real concessions. Some observers see the Russian memorandum as a way by Moscow to formalize its negotiation position. 'Even an unsigned document gives the Kremlin a firmer diplomatic foothold,' said Moscow-based defense analyst Sergei Poletaev. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that the document reflects Putin's key goal of of securing a 'friendly' Ukraine without a full-fledged military or ties of any kind with its Western allies. She noted the Russian document offers Ukraine a choice between the two options because Moscow knows that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions "is not viable and seeks to push Kyiv toward the second as the primary course.' At the same time, Moscow's memorandum appears to indicate that 'Russia is open to considering leaving parts of the annexed regions that it does not control to Ukraine.' Stanovaya said Moscow's maximalist demands mean that 'the fighting is set to continue, even if bilateral interactions persist.'
The Hill
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
Putin's uncompromising demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Russia took weeks to present to Ukraine with a 'memorandum' setting out its conditions for a ceasefire, as well as key guidelines for a comprehensive treaty to end the more than 3-year-old war. To practically no one's surprise, it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters. Ukraine had set its negotiating stance before Monday's direct peace talks in Istanbul, emphasizing its readiness to declare a 30-day ceasefire immediately without preconditions that was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv reaffirmed its refusal to abandon a bid for NATO membership and rejected acknowledgment of Russia's annexation of any of its regions. Both sides have established mutually exclusive red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Moscow's demands, published in the Russian media, make it clear that President Vladimir Putin is determined to ensure the fulfillment of the goals in Ukraine he set when he launched the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Key points of the Russian and Ukrainian documents: Russia offered Ukraine a choice of two options for establishing a 30-day ceasefire. One option is that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. The second option described by Moscow as the 'package' proposal, presses Ukraine to halt its mobilization efforts and freeze Western arms deliveries — conditions that were suggested earlier by Putin. On top of that, the document also demands that Ukraine begin demobilizing its military, halt any redeployment of forces and ban the presence of any third-country forces on its soil. The 'package' option further proposes that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, after which the two countries could sign a comprehensive peace treaty. The Russian document declares that conditions for peace must include the 'international legal recognition' of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its 2022 annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It says a future peace treaty should have Ukraine declare its neutral status between Russia and the West, and abandon its bid to join NATO. The document demands that Ukraine limit the size of its armed forces, recognize Russian as an official language on par with Ukrainian, ban 'glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism' and dissolve nationalist groups -– conditions reflecting Putin's goals from the outset of his invasion. The false allegations that neo-Nazi groups were shaping Ukraine's politics under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, have been vehemently dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies. In Russia's view, a comprehensive peace treaty should also see both countries lift all sanctions and restrictions, abandon any claims to compensation for wartime damage, resume trade and communications, and reestablish diplomatic ties. It also suggests that the peace treaty between Russian and Ukraine be endorsed by a resolution of the U.N. Security Council. The memorandum that Ukraine submitted to Moscow before the talks and shared with its allies emphasized the need for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to set stage for peace negotiations. It reaffirmed Ukraine's consistent rejection of Russian demands for neutral status as an attack on its sovereignty, declaring it is free to choose its alliances and adding that its NATO membership will depend on consensus with the alliance. It emphasized Kyiv's rejection of any restrictions on the size and other parameters of its armed forces, as well as curbs on the presence of foreign troops on its soil. Ukraine's memorandum also opposed recognizing any Russian territorial gains, while describing the current line of contact as a starting point in negotiations. The document noted the need for international security guarantees to ensure the implementation of peace agreements and prevent further aggression. The Ukrainian peace proposal also demanded the return of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and an 'all-for-all' prisoner exchange. It held the door open to gradual lifting of some of the sanctions against Russia if it abides by the agreeme The sharply conflicting demands leave little hope for any quick progress in talks. By maintaining its maximalist demands, Moscow is seemingly unfazed by repeated threats of sanctions by the West or other pressure to make real concessions. Some observers see the Russian memorandum as a way by Moscow to formalize its negotiation position. 'Even an unsigned document gives the Kremlin a firmer diplomatic foothold,' said Moscow-based defense analyst Sergei Poletaev. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that the document reflects Putin's key goal of of securing a 'friendly' Ukraine without a full-fledged military or ties of any kind with its Western allies. She noted the Russian document offers Ukraine a choice between the two options because Moscow knows that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions 'is not viable and seeks to push Kyiv toward the second as the primary course.' At the same time, Moscow's memorandum appears to indicate that 'Russia is open to considering leaving parts of the annexed regions that it does not control to Ukraine.' Stanovaya said Moscow's maximalist demands mean that 'the fighting is set to continue, even if bilateral interactions persist.'
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Putin's uncompromising demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Russia took weeks to present to Ukraine with a 'memorandum' setting out its conditions for a ceasefire, as well as key guidelines for a comprehensive treaty to end the more than 3-year-old war. To practically no one's surprise, it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters. Ukraine had set its negotiating stance before Monday's direct peace talks in Istanbul, emphasizing its readiness to declare a 30-day ceasefire immediately without preconditions that was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv reaffirmed its refusal to abandon a bid for NATO membership and rejected acknowledgment of Russia's annexation of any of its regions. Both sides have established mutually exclusive red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Moscow's demands, published in the Russian media, make it clear that President Vladimir Putin is determined to ensure the fulfillment of the goals in Ukraine he set when he launched the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Key points of the Russian and Ukrainian documents: Russia offered Ukraine a choice of two options for establishing a 30-day ceasefire. One option is that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. The second option described by Moscow as the 'package' proposal, presses Ukraine to halt its mobilization efforts and freeze Western arms deliveries — conditions that were suggested earlier by Putin. On top of that, the document also demands that Ukraine begin demobilizing its military, halt any redeployment of forces and ban the presence of any third-country forces on its soil. The 'package' option further proposes that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, after which the two countries could sign a comprehensive peace treaty. Russia's terms for a comprehensive peace treaty The Russian document declares that conditions for peace must include the 'international legal recognition' of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its 2022 annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It says a future peace treaty should have Ukraine declare its neutral status between Russia and the West, and abandon its bid to join NATO. The document demands that Ukraine limit the size of its armed forces, recognize Russian as an official language on par with Ukrainian, ban 'glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism' and dissolve nationalist groups -– conditions reflecting Putin's goals from the outset of his invasion. The false allegations that neo-Nazi groups were shaping Ukraine's politics under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, have been vehemently dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies. In Russia's view, a comprehensive peace treaty should also see both countries lift all sanctions and restrictions, abandon any claims to compensation for wartime damage, resume trade and communications, and reestablish diplomatic ties. It also suggests that the peace treaty between Russian and Ukraine be endorsed by a resolution of the U.N. Security Council. Ukraine's ceasefire position also remains firm The memorandum that Ukraine submitted to Moscow before the talks and shared with its allies emphasized the need for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to set stage for peace negotiations. It reaffirmed Ukraine's consistent rejection of Russian demands for neutral status as an attack on its sovereignty, declaring it is free to choose its alliances and adding that its NATO membership will depend on consensus with the alliance. It emphasized Kyiv's rejection of any restrictions on the size and other parameters of its armed forces, as well as curbs on the presence of foreign troops on its soil. Ukraine's memorandum also opposed recognizing any Russian territorial gains, while describing the current line of contact as a starting point in negotiations. The document noted the need for international security guarantees to ensure the implementation of peace agreements and prevent further aggression. The Ukrainian peace proposal also demanded the return of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and an 'all-for-all' prisoner exchange. The opposing positions make peace seem elusive The sharply conflicting demands leave little hope for any quick progress in talks. By maintaining its maximalist demands, Moscow is seemingly unfazed by repeated threats of sanctions by the West or other pressure to make real concessions. Some observers see the Russian memorandum as a way by Moscow to formalize its negotiation position. 'Even an unsigned document gives the Kremlin a firmer diplomatic foothold,' said Moscow-based defense analyst Sergei Poletaev. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that the document reflects Putin's key goal of of securing a 'friendly' Ukraine without a full-fledged military or ties of any kind with its Western allies. She noted the Russian document offers Ukraine a choice between the two options because Moscow knows that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions "is not viable and seeks to push Kyiv toward the second as the primary course.' At the same time, Moscow's memorandum appears to indicate that 'Russia is open to considering leaving parts of the annexed regions that it does not control to Ukraine.' Stanovaya said Moscow's maximalist demands mean that 'the fighting is set to continue, even if bilateral interactions persist.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Putin's uncompromising demands emerge after the latest round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Russia took weeks to present to Ukraine with a 'memorandum' setting out its conditions for a ceasefire, as well as key guidelines for a comprehensive treaty to end the more than 3-year-old war. To practically no one's surprise, it's a list of the Kremlin's longstanding, maximalist demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters. Ukraine had set its negotiating stance before Monday's direct peace talks in Istanbul, emphasizing its readiness to declare a 30-day ceasefire immediately without preconditions that was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Kyiv reaffirmed its refusal to abandon a bid for NATO membership and rejected acknowledgment of Russia's annexation of any of its regions. Both sides have established mutually exclusive red lines that make any quick deal unlikely. Moscow's demands, published in the Russian media, make it clear that President Vladimir Putin is determined to ensure the fulfillment of the goals in Ukraine he set when he launched the invasion on Feb. 24, 2022. Key points of the Russian and Ukrainian documents: Moscow's conditions for a 30-day truce Russia offered Ukraine a choice of two options for establishing a 30-day ceasefire. One option is that Ukraine must withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions Moscow illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully captured. The second option described by Moscow as the 'package' proposal, presses Ukraine to halt its mobilization efforts and freeze Western arms deliveries — conditions that were suggested earlier by Putin. On top of that, the document also demands that Ukraine begin demobilizing its military, halt any redeployment of forces and ban the presence of any third-country forces on its soil. The 'package' option further proposes that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, after which the two countries could sign a comprehensive peace treaty. Russia's terms for a comprehensive peace treaty The Russian document declares that conditions for peace must include the 'international legal recognition' of Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its 2022 annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. It says a future peace treaty should have Ukraine declare its neutral status between Russia and the West, and abandon its bid to join NATO. The document demands that Ukraine limit the size of its armed forces, recognize Russian as an official language on par with Ukrainian, ban 'glorification and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism' and dissolve nationalist groups -– conditions reflecting Putin's goals from the outset of his invasion. The false allegations that neo-Nazi groups were shaping Ukraine's politics under President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, have been vehemently dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies. In Russia's view, a comprehensive peace treaty should also see both countries lift all sanctions and restrictions, abandon any claims to compensation for wartime damage, resume trade and communications, and reestablish diplomatic ties. It also suggests that the peace treaty between Russian and Ukraine be endorsed by a resolution of the U.N. Security Council. Ukraine's ceasefire position also remains firm The memorandum that Ukraine submitted to Moscow before the talks and shared with its allies emphasized the need for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to set stage for peace negotiations. It reaffirmed Ukraine's consistent rejection of Russian demands for neutral status as an attack on its sovereignty, declaring it is free to choose its alliances and adding that its NATO membership will depend on consensus with the alliance. It emphasized Kyiv's rejection of any restrictions on the size and other parameters of its armed forces, as well as curbs on the presence of foreign troops on its soil. Ukraine's memorandum also opposed recognizing any Russian territorial gains, while describing the current line of contact as a starting point in negotiations. The document noted the need for international security guarantees to ensure the implementation of peace agreements and prevent further aggression. The Ukrainian peace proposal also demanded the return of all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children and an 'all-for-all' prisoner exchange. It held the door open to gradual lifting of some of the sanctions against Russia if it abides by the agreeme The opposing positions make peace seem elusive The sharply conflicting demands leave little hope for any quick progress in talks. By maintaining its maximalist demands, Moscow is seemingly unfazed by repeated threats of sanctions by the West or other pressure to make real concessions. Some observers see the Russian memorandum as a way by Moscow to formalize its negotiation position. 'Even an unsigned document gives the Kremlin a firmer diplomatic foothold,' said Moscow-based defense analyst Sergei Poletaev. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that the document reflects Putin's key goal of of securing a 'friendly' Ukraine without a full-fledged military or ties of any kind with its Western allies. She noted the Russian document offers Ukraine a choice between the two options because Moscow knows that a Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions "is not viable and seeks to push Kyiv toward the second as the primary course.' At the same time, Moscow's memorandum appears to indicate that 'Russia is open to considering leaving parts of the annexed regions that it does not control to Ukraine.' Stanovaya said Moscow's maximalist demands mean that 'the fighting is set to continue, even if bilateral interactions persist.'
