Putin Proposes Temporary Administration for Ukraine To Conduct New Elections, Negotiate Peace
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine be placed under a temporary administration to facilitate new elections and enable a peace settlement, according to Russian news agencies. The comments, made during a visit to Murmansk on Friday, come as the United States seeks to re-establish communication with Russia and engage both Moscow and Kyiv in separate talks. Putin’s proposal aims to address his long-standing contention that Ukraine’s government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, is not a legitimate negotiating partner due to the ongoing conflict and the expiry of Zelensky’s mandate in May 2024. “In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries, and our partners,” Putin was quoted as saying. “This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people, and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty.” The proposal comes amid US President Donald Trump’s efforts to engage directly with Russia, in contrast to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who refrained from talks. Putin expressed confidence that Trump truly desires peace, stating, “In my opinion, the newly elected president of the United States sincerely wants an end to the conflict for a number of reasons.” In response, a White House National Security Council spokesperson affirmed that governance in Ukraine would be determined by the country’s constitution and its people. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials. Meanwhile, European leaders, including those from France and Britain, have vowed to continue strengthening Ukraine’s military. They are also working to expand support for a foreign “reassurance force” to bolster Ukraine’s security, despite Moscow’s rejection of any foreign military presence in the country.
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