(Dan Tri) – The Wall Street Journal has published details about the draft peace agreement discussed by Russia and Ukraine immediately after the conflict broke out in February 2022.
Negotiations between representatives of Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in April 2022 (Photo: Sputnik).
Accordingly, Kiev’s neutrality is one of Moscow’s important concession requests.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the 17-page document dated April 15, 2022 allows Ukraine to join the European Union (EU), but cannot become a member of NATO.
Responding to the Wall Street Journal report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow and Kiev agreed on a draft peace treaty weeks after the conflict began, but Russia did not want the document to be published.
`The entire negotiation process was terminated due to the decision of the Ukrainian side, at the request of the British side,` Mr. Peskov said.
Moscow and Kiev held talks in Istanbul, Türkiye at the end of March 2022.
Media reported that then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson specially went to Kiev to persuade President Volodymyr Zelensky’s government to withdraw from negotiations with Moscow.
`In March 2022, in fact there were certain conditions, but now there are other conditions and a different legal status of the territories that have become part of Russia, which have been recorded
The Kremlin spokesman’s statement mentioned four regions Russia announced to annex from Ukraine, including Kherson, Zaporizhia, Lugansk, and Donetsk.
Up to now, Kiev and the West still refuse to recognize the referendum results, as well as Russia’s annexation of the four territories above.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the draft peace agreement does not mention the above territorial issue.
The Wall Street Journal said countries such as the US, UK, France, China and Russia intend to become guarantors of the peace agreement.
Additionally, Moscow reportedly wants Russian to be used by the Ukrainian government and courts on an equal basis with Ukrainian.
Russia and Ukraine have not sat at the negotiating table since the talks in Istanbul.
Moscow blames Kiev and the West for refusing any meaningful dialogue, saying this leaves Moscow with no choice but to continue pursuing its goals on the battlefield.