Putin insists on official status for Russian language in Ukraine and is still refusing to meet Zelenskyy – NYT
The New York Times has reported that during his talks with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, Russian leader Vladimir Putin insisted on guarantees for official recognition of the Russian language in Ukraine and protection for Russian Orthodox churches. Putin has so far refused to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Source: The New York Times, citing two senior European officials
Quote: "Mr Putin also asked for guarantees for Russian to become an official language again in Ukraine and security for Russian Orthodox churches, the officials said."
Details: According to the unnamed officials, Trump said he hopes to hold a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy, but Putin has "so far refused to meet with Mr Zelenskyy, considering him an illegitimate president of an artificial country".
The NYT reported that Trump abandoned his demand for an immediate ceasefire after his meeting with Putin and now believes a peace treaty could be quickly reached if Zelenskyy agrees to cede the still-unoccupied areas of Donbas to Russia.
In return, Putin proposed a ceasefire across the rest of Ukraine along current front lines and a promise in writing never again to attack Ukraine or any European country, the officials said. The sources warned Trump, however, that Putin has frequently violated his written commitments.
The newspaper notes that Zelenskyy and European leaders are strongly opposed to any concession of unoccupied Donbas territory, which also contains key defensive positions and is rich in mineral resources. Ukrainian officials have emphasised that any final agreement cannot include Kyiv consenting to permanently cede sovereign land, as this would violate the Constitution.
Background:
- The Trump-Putin meeting ended with no agreements reached and no ceasefire in Ukraine announced, despite both leaders claiming "great progress" was made.
- After the Alaska talks, Trump said he had reached an agreement with Putin on a territory exchange and that "President Zelenskyy has to agree".
- Trump is reported to have told Ukraine and European leaders that Putin wants to immediately discuss the terms of ending the war, not just a pause in the hostilities. Trump believes that this would be better.
- On 16 August, Trump spoke first with Zelenskyy and then European leaders after his talks with Putin. Zelenskyy announced that he will meet Trump in Washington on 18 August.
- According to Bloomberg, Trump has informed European leaders and Zelenskyy that Putin is still demanding that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the entire territory of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In return, Russia will give up its claims to the areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts that it does not currently control, effectively freezing the front line.
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