Diplomat Bezsmertnyi Details Consultations with Russia, Says No Genuine Peace Talks Underway.

The State of Peace Negotiations

According to TSN.ua: Diplomat Roman Bezsmertnyi has stated that no substantive negotiations concerning a peace plan or agreement are currently taking place. He clarified that discussions are presently limited to technical aspects of a potential ceasefire. Bezsmertnyi made these remarks during an interview on the Espreso TV channel, where he emphasized,

“In reality, there are no negotiations happening on a peace plan or a peace agreement.”

He further noted that Moscow has shifted its terminology, replacing the word 'negotiations' with 'consultations.' Within this framework, the Russian side is operating through three distinct working groups:

• The first group is led by Vladimir Medinsky's team,
• The second is led by Kirill Dmitriev's team,
• The third is led by Kostyukov's team.

“There is another, very important point: Moscow is conducting these consultations through three groups,” the diplomat added.

Prospects for Peace Talks

Bezsmertnyi also highlighted the complexity of the situation, acknowledging that Donald Trump had pointed this out after the New Year. Meanwhile, peace talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia are scheduled for February 17-18 in Geneva. The Russian delegation will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.

Bezsmertnyi commented on Russia's negotiation attempts, suggesting they involve efforts to 'buy' individuals like Vytkoff, Kushner, and Trump, and 'dangling figures, first 300 billion, and now the situation has reached 12 trillion.' He stressed that in the latest round of meetings between Dmitriev and Vytkoff, Trump 'had already backed down completely and set no deadlines.' These statements point to a complex and unpredictable diplomatic landscape where genuine efforts to achieve peace remain in doubt. The upcoming Geneva talks are a critical diplomatic event, but expectations for a breakthrough are low given the current stalemate.

The atmosphere surrounding peace efforts remains tense, with no observable real push for an agreement. The semantic shift from 'negotiations' to 'consultations' may indicate diminished hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict. The planned meetings in Geneva could serve as a key platform for discussion, yet their outcomes remain uncertain considering the current dynamics of diplomatic relations. The focus on technical ceasefire details suggests that practical solutions may be postponed indefinitely, underscoring the protracted and intricate nature of the conflict.