NYT "Putin Exploring Ceasefire Negotiations in Ukraine War"

"Kremlin Palace Sends Signals Through Multiple Diplomatic Channels"

Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated a willingness to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine, the US New York Times (NYT) reported on the 23rd (local time).

According to the NYT, this information was conveyed based on interviews with two former senior Russian officials close to the Kremlin and a special envoy of President Putin, as well as US and international officials.

The report states that since September, the Kremlin has sent signals through multiple diplomatic channels expressing interest in negotiating a ceasefire with Ukraine. Countries maintaining friendly relations with both the US and Russia have also acted as messengers for President Putin.

US officials told the NYT that President Putin has been exploring the possibility of ceasefire negotiations since last autumn. Although he has taken a belligerent stance in public, his true intention is to declare victory after securing some Ukrainian territory and then end the war. Last autumn was when Ukraine succeeded in reclaiming parts of the northeastern region.

Recent messages from the Kremlin suggest that ceasefire negotiation efforts have resumed. An international official who met with a top Russian official this fall said, "Russia says, 'We are ready to negotiate a ceasefire,'" adding, "They want to remain in the currently occupied territories."

Another former senior Russian official told the NYT that the Kremlin is quietly sending signals to explore negotiations, stating, "He (Putin) really wants to stop at the current position."

They reported that President Putin views this moment as the right time for a ceasefire. The war has reached a stalemate, Ukraine's counteroffensive attempts have shown little progress, public opinion has worsened, and Western support has weakened. The outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas in October also presented an opportunity from Russia's perspective.

However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reportedly responded to this by calling it "conceptually incorrect," according to the NYT.

Regarding Russia's willingness for a ceasefire, he quoted President Putin's previous speeches, saying, "President Putin is indeed ready to talk and has said so," and added, "Russia will maintain a readiness to engage in dialogue, but only when it serves our goal achievement."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.