On the impossibility of negotiations with Putin

Putin has long wanted negotiations. No, he doesn’t plan to give up or retreat. He wants to solidify the "realities on the battlefield," knowing he can't win a long-term war.

But negotiating with him is impossible for us and the world. Putin is a liar and doesn’t keep agreements. He proved this before the war, claiming that plans to attack Ukraine were an American invention. Thus, it's nearly impossible to force a nuclear-armed lunatic dictator to honor any agreement.

The only viable solution is to negotiate with China. China's support has kept Russia from collapsing, and its influence on Russia’s economy and politics will grow. Unlike the Kremlin, China respects treaties because its global trade depends on it. If China becomes a key participant in these negotiations and takes on obligations, it might lead to a sustainable result with Putin.

However, China has its own agenda and won’t act without considering its interests, like Taiwan and access to Western markets. To achieve any success in resolving the Ukraine war through negotiations, the West must consider Chinese interests. But this is unlikely, especially with the potential return of Trump, a fierce enemy of China.

Therefore, I think a successful negotiation process is nearly impossible. The only realistic scenario is for both sides to exhaust their forces and establish a stalemate on the battlefield. The Korean scenario is an example.

Source

About the author. Viktor Andrusiv, a political and public figure, analyst, and publicist

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.