Putin floats idea of un led govt for ukraine boasts of battlefield gains

Putin floats idea of un led govt for ukraine boasts of battlefield gains

Russian President says the proposal is to facilitate democratic elections and establish a government capable of negotiating a peace treaty; Ukraine’s Zelenskyy dismisses Putin’s proposal as a tactic to delay peace negotiations and prolong the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Friday to put Ukraine under external governance under the UN aegis as part of efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, a blustery statement that reflected the Kremlin leader’s determination to achieve his war goals.

Speaking to the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine in televised remarks broadcast early Friday, Mr. Putin reaffirmed his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraine’s constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it is under martial law.

Mr. Putin claimed that any agreement that is signed with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors and said new elections could be held under external governance.

“Under the auspices of the United Nations, with the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine,” Mr. Putin said, adding that it would allow the country to “hold democratic elections, to bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations with them on a peace treaty”.

Mr. Putin’s remarks came hours after the conclusion of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that considered plans to deploy troops to Ukraine to cement an eventual peace deal. Mr. Macron said “several” other nations want to be part of the force alongside France and Britain. Russia has warned it would not accept any troops from NATO members as part of a prospective peacekeeping force.

Meanwhile, Mr. Zelenskyy on Friday dismissed the proposal by Mr. Putin that Ukraine could have an interim government overseen by the UN, calling this a ploy to delay peace. “Everything (Putin) does delay any possibility towards ending the war,” Mr. Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv.