Among Putin’s main demands for the end of the military offensive in Ukraine are the demilitarization and “denazification” of Kiev, the renunciation of Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over the Crimea and Donbas region.| Photo: EFE/EPA/ALEKSEY NIKOLSKYI
Started by Russia more than ten days ago, the military offensive in Ukraine should only be stopped – if it depends on the Kremlin – if Kiev complies with a series of demands that have been imposed by President Vladimir Putin. The Russian president has already said he is willing to achieve all of the Kremlin’s goals whether through “negotiation or war”.
Among Putin’s main demands for the end of the military offensive in Ukraine are the demilitarization and “denazification” of Kiev, the renunciation of Ukraine’s entry into NATO and the recognition of the Russian sovereignty over the Crimea and Donbas region.
“It was underlined that the suspension of the special operation is only possible if Kiev stops military operations and complies with the well-known Russian demands,” Putin said in a phone call with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday (6). The Russian president was adamant and stated that the war against Ukraine should only end when the government of Volodymyr Zelensky surrenders.
“We hope that during the next planned round of negotiations, representatives of Ukraine will show a more constructive approach, taking full account of emerging realities,” the Kremlin said in a statement. about the conversation between the two presidents. Russia further warned of the “futility of any attempt to prolong the negotiation process, which is being used by the Ukrainian security forces to regroup their forces and resources.”
In a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, also this Sunday, Putin was adamant and said he had no intention of renounce the objectives imposed on Kiev.
)One of the stated goals of the Kremlin since the beginning of the offensive is to demilitarize the neighboring country, so that Russia has “guarantees that there will be no threats from Ukraine”. For Putin, this would necessarily imply canceling the Ukrainian Armed Forces, especially their air power. According to Russian demands, Ukraine could no longer receive weapons from its western allies.
Putin demands, in addition, what he has called the “denazification” of Ukraine, in reference to neo-Nazi militias that have risen in the country since 2014. The statement has been widely criticized by interlocutors, given the fact that Zelensky, who runs the country, is Jewish.
“I have taken the decision to carry out a special military operation. Its objective will be to defend the people who have suffered persecution and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. For this, we will aim at demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine,” the Russian president said in a televised speech.
Zelensky, in turn, countered accusations that his government is Nazi. “Tell you that we are Nazis. But can a people who gave more than eight million lives for the victory over Nazism support the Nazis? How can I be a Nazi? Explain this to my grandfather, who went through the entire war in the infantry of the Soviet army and died as a colonel in independent Ukraine,” he said, also in a televised speech.
Russia also requires, through “war or agreement”, to obtain a formal guarantee of Ukraine’s non-accession to the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO). The formal commitment should have the approval of the Ukrainian parliament and the holding of a referendum on the issue. Currently, Ukraine is classified as a “associated country” with NATO – this means that the nation may join the organization in the future.
For Russia, it is a “matter of life and death”, as the neighboring country’s entry into the military alliance would strengthen NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe. In practice, this could become a threat to Russia as it make it possible the entry of nuclear weapons and the installation of military bases of other countries – especially the USA – in its vicinity. Mandatory, NATO member countries are committed to defending each other in the event of an armed attack against any of them.
“For the US and its allies, it’s Russia’s so-called detention policy, with obvious political dividends. And for our country, it’s a matter of life and death, it’s a question of our historic future as a people. It is no exaggeration. It is a real threat not only to our interests, but to the very existence of our state and its sovereignty,” Putin said on the last day of February. “Imagine that Ukraine is a member of NATO, fully equipped with weapons, with advanced means of attack like those of Poland and Romania, and starts an operation in Crimea.”3) Recognition of Crimea and Donbas as Russian territories
Russia has also made it a condition to stop the war against Ukraine that Kiev accepts sovereignty of Moscow over the territory of Crimea and Donbas, as well as handing them over to Kremlin-backed rebels in the east of the country.
The Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Russia in the year of 8221 , despite part of the international community not having recognized the action. “European countries, including France, believe that Crimea is part of Ukraine, but we think it is part of the Russian Federation,” Putin said in February. “And what happens if you try to change this situation by military means? […] keep in mind that Ukraine’s doctrines declare Russia as an adversary and establish the possibility of her retaking Crimea, including using military force.”
As for the Donbas, Russia has been trying to annex the region since 2014, the year Kremlin-backed rebels seized government buildings and other facilities in Luhansk and Donetsk. The areas controlled by the separatists became known as the Luhansk People’s Republic (RPL) and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). Putin says that the purpose of the measure is to defend a people subjected to years of “genocide by the Kiev regime”. “Circumstances oblige us to take decisive and immediate measures. The people’s republics of Donbass have asked Russia for help”, said the president as he began the offensive against Ukraine.
“In this regard, in accordance with Article , part seven of the Charter of the United Nations (UN), with the sanction of the Federation Council and in compliance with friendship treaties and mutual assistance with the RPD and the RPL, ratified by the Federal Assembly, I decided to carry out a special military operation,” he said.
Jessa Martin is the author of Nogmagazine, A professional in writing by day, and novelist by night, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and her master of arts in media studies from the New School. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking.
