Zelensky Requests Guarantees and Putin Sets Conditions.. And the Battlefield Falls Silent to the Voice of Diplomacy
August 21, 20257 ViewsRead Time: 3 minutes
Font Size
16
It seems that the window of diplomacy has opened wide between Moscow and Kyiv, but it carries within it conditions and complexities that could return the region to square one again. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announces his readiness to meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but under conditions that seem to redefine the meaning of "peace" in the region.
Zelensky is no longer the leader who merely asks for a ceasefire; he has become a statesman demanding permanent security guarantees. His words were clear: "The talks cannot be just a temporary truce." This shift in rhetoric reflects a harsh lesson Ukraine learned from the 2022 invasion - that fragile peace may be a prelude to a more intense war.
The guarantees Zelensky is asking for are not just diplomatic promises, but binding agreements from major countries, forming a safety net that protects Ukraine from any future aggression. This request comes at a time when Western countries are considering multiple options, from guarantees similar to Article 5 of NATO to deploying international training forces.
But Moscow does not seem ready to sit at the negotiating table without its own conditions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov places a new obstacle in the way: the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president. By raising the issue of the postponed Ukrainian elections, it seems that the Kremlin is trying to redefine who the legitimate party in the negotiations is.
Lavrov's accusation of Kyiv working according to "Western dictates" reveals a deep Russian fear that any agreement could turn into a Western victory at the expense of Russian interests. This mentality suggests that the road to negotiations will be fraught with deep doubts from both sides.
On the ground, Russia leaves no room for doubt that it is negotiating from a position of strength. The recent Russian attack, the largest in weeks, sends a clear message: diplomacy will not stop military operations. The use of dozens of drones and missiles reminds us that military power remains the primary language in this crisis.
However, Ukrainian defenses have once again proven effective in shooting down most missiles, showing that Kyiv is no longer the weak party it was at the beginning of the war. This relatively balanced military equation may actually be the factor that drives both parties to negotiations.
In the background, there are other players influencing the course. Zelensky's request for Trump to intervene with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reveals a new dimension in the crisis. Orban's opposition to Ukraine's accession to the European Union represents a significant obstacle in the path of European integration that Kyiv sees as an essential part of its future security.
Trump's promises to pressure Orban open the door to unconventional American diplomacy that could change the equation. But it also raises questions about Washington's ability to impose its will on unconventional allies like Orban.
The options for Ukraine and Russia are limited: either a fragile peace and a temporary ceasefire without real security guarantees, which means the possibility of renewed war later.
Or a comprehensive settlement and an agreement that guarantees Ukraine's security and takes into account Russian interests, but it seems difficult to achieve under current conditions. Or the continuation of the war, the failure of negotiations, and a return to full military confrontation.
The current moment represents a rare opportunity to end the longest war in Europe since World War II. But its success requires more than just a desire to sit at the table. Both parties need to overcome deep doubts and focus on the interests of their war-weary peoples.
Zelensky is no longer the leader who merely asks for a ceasefire; he has become a statesman demanding permanent security guarantees. His words were clear: "The talks cannot be just a temporary truce." This shift in rhetoric reflects a harsh lesson Ukraine learned from the 2022 invasion - that fragile peace may be a prelude to a more intense war.
The guarantees Zelensky is asking for are not just diplomatic promises, but binding agreements from major countries, forming a safety net that protects Ukraine from any future aggression. This request comes at a time when Western countries are considering multiple options, from guarantees similar to Article 5 of NATO to deploying international training forces.
But Moscow does not seem ready to sit at the negotiating table without its own conditions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov places a new obstacle in the way: the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president. By raising the issue of the postponed Ukrainian elections, it seems that the Kremlin is trying to redefine who the legitimate party in the negotiations is.
Lavrov's accusation of Kyiv working according to "Western dictates" reveals a deep Russian fear that any agreement could turn into a Western victory at the expense of Russian interests. This mentality suggests that the road to negotiations will be fraught with deep doubts from both sides.
On the ground, Russia leaves no room for doubt that it is negotiating from a position of strength. The recent Russian attack, the largest in weeks, sends a clear message: diplomacy will not stop military operations. The use of dozens of drones and missiles reminds us that military power remains the primary language in this crisis.
However, Ukrainian defenses have once again proven effective in shooting down most missiles, showing that Kyiv is no longer the weak party it was at the beginning of the war. This relatively balanced military equation may actually be the factor that drives both parties to negotiations.
In the background, there are other players influencing the course. Zelensky's request for Trump to intervene with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reveals a new dimension in the crisis. Orban's opposition to Ukraine's accession to the European Union represents a significant obstacle in the path of European integration that Kyiv sees as an essential part of its future security.
Trump's promises to pressure Orban open the door to unconventional American diplomacy that could change the equation. But it also raises questions about Washington's ability to impose its will on unconventional allies like Orban.
The options for Ukraine and Russia are limited: either a fragile peace and a temporary ceasefire without real security guarantees, which means the possibility of renewed war later.
Or a comprehensive settlement and an agreement that guarantees Ukraine's security and takes into account Russian interests, but it seems difficult to achieve under current conditions. Or the continuation of the war, the failure of negotiations, and a return to full military confrontation.
The current moment represents a rare opportunity to end the longest war in Europe since World War II. But its success requires more than just a desire to sit at the table. Both parties need to overcome deep doubts and focus on the interests of their war-weary peoples.
