Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected today's proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to temporarily place Ukraine under foreign administration, under which elections would be held in the country, as a search for a reason not to end the war.
"He is afraid of negotiations with Ukraine. He is afraid of negotiations with me personally, and by excluding the Ukrainian government, he suggests that Ukraine is not an independent actor for him," Zelensky told reporters.
Putin said this morning that Zelensky, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace treaty with Russia, and that the document could be challenged by the successors of the current Ukrainian government. According to the Ukrainian constitution, parliamentary elections cannot be held while a state of emergency is in effect.
"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 introducing an interim administration in Ukraine. This would allow Ukraine to hold democratic elections and bring to power a viable government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin negotiations on a peace agreement," Putin said.
He made the proposal shortly after the end of a summit in Paris, where plans were discussed for the deployment of Western forces to Ukraine to ensure the implementation of a possible peace agreement. Most participants did not accept the proposal from France and Great Britain.
Russia has warned that it will not accept troops from NATO members as part of a potential peacekeeping force.
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other participants in yesterday's summit accused Russia of only pretending to want a negotiated solution, saying that Moscow was "playing games" and "buying time."
Zelensky welcomed the outcome of the Paris summit today, saying that Europe "definitely knows how to defend itself" and that Kiev, together with European allies, "is working to ensure greater security for Ukraine and all European countries," the Associated Press reports.
Russia and Ukraine, mediated by the United States, have reached an agreement in principle to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, but they disagree on the date for it to come into effect.
Zelensky told reporters today that it is also unclear how the ceasefire should be monitored.
"Who confirms it? Who monitors?" Zelensky asked, adding that the US had said it would hold consultations with other countries on their readiness to conduct monitoring.
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