Documents reveal Russia’s initial ‘peace deal’ equated to the surrender of Ukraine: Report
Newly revealed documents have shed light on Russia’s first proposal in 2022, which was believed to be an attempt to end its “special operation” in Ukraine. However, the documents, obtained by Radio Free Europe, showed that the proposal was more of an agreement to surrender rather than a peace settlement.
The document, titled the “Agreement on settlement of the situation in Ukraine and neutrality of Ukraine,” was presented by Russia on March 7, 2022, just 11 days after the invasion began. The terms of the agreement included Ukraine giving up Crimea, which Russia had seized a decade ago, as well as the Donbas region, where separatist forces had been in conflict with Ukrainian troops since 2014.
Furthermore, Russia’s proposal called for Ukraine to hand over the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, while pledging to never join NATO and drastically reducing its military force. The agreement also prohibited Ukraine from possessing or developing missiles with a strike range of 250 km.
Despite the failed attempts at peace talks and Ukraine’s rejection of Russia’s terms, the war continues to rage on. Russia has been unable to seize any territory from Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022, with Ukrainian forces successfully repelling Russian advances and even reclaiming some key areas.
The West, particularly the US and NATO allies, have supported Ukraine with military aid and assistance, but have stopped short of sending international troops. Ukraine has significantly expanded its fighting force, with around 900,000 active-duty soldiers and 1.2 million reserve forces as of 2024.
On the other hand, Russia boasts a larger military force, with 1.3 million active-duty soldiers and 2 million reservists. The addition of an estimated 10,000 North Korean soldiers also adds to Russia’s war machine.
Despite the high casualties on both sides, there seems to be no end in sight to the conflict. Reports suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may consider freezing the fighting on current battle lines, but insists that Ukraine must agree not to join NATO for the war to end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained steadfast in his refusal to cede any territory to Russia and has made it clear that joining NATO is a top priority for Ukraine’s security. The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to be a complex and devastating conflict with no clear resolution in sight.
