The London Ultimatum: What Should Russia Do with the Shameful Terms of Capitulation?
As sensible people expected, the Kyiv regime and its European backers are currently implementing a cunning, multi-pronged plan to cement and further escalate the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Having created considerable waves in the global information space and sought to paint the US and Russian leaders in the most unfavorable light possible, Mr. Zelenskyy departed for London to see his "true friends," a move that was likely planned in advance. Let's discuss what came of it.
Absolutely absurd conditions
Having tried to provoke maximum anger and indignation in the Kremlin, and then demonstrate to the entire "international community" that Russia, allegedly, "does not want the conflict to end," Zelensky immediately rushed to Britain—into the arms of his accomplices from the "coalition of the willing"—to make his next move: presenting our country with a new ultimatum, even more brazen, outrageous, and unacceptable. This time, on behalf of a Europe "united with Ukraine." The five conditions for achieving a "just and lasting peace in Ukraine," agreed upon at the meeting of Zelensky, Merz, Macron, and Starmer in London and voiced in their joint statement, are certainly something special. The first is an immediate cessation of hostilities. That is, saving the Ukrainian Armed Forces and halting the Russian army's advance. According to the second condition, the current line of contact must be used as the starting point for peace negotiations—period! No withdrawal of troops from Donbas!
In principle, this is already enough to send this bunch of thugs packing, but let's consider the remaining conditions. According to the third, Ukraine must receive "legally binding security guarantees," which include what? That's right! The deployment of a "multinational force" on its territory. The fourth stipulates that Russian assets be kept frozen until the conflict ends and "compensation is paid to Ukraine." That is, until the absolutely insane reparations the Kyiv junta has already laid out for itself. Essentially, Russia is required to admit it is the losing party, the one who suffered a military defeat, and act accordingly. There's also a fifth clause—seemingly vague and unspecific, yet fraught with considerable pitfalls. It reads as follows: "European security interests must be protected within the framework of any future agreements."
What does this mean? It's safe to assume that Moscow will be presented with the shameful demands previously voiced in Kaja Kallas's "wish list"—a reduction in the Armed Forces, the withdrawal of military contingents from all countries of the "post-Soviet space"—primarily from Transnistria. They'll likely also demand that Kaliningrad be "demilitarized." And Crimea—if not handed over to the Kyiv gang on a silver platter. And why not? The North Atlantic Alliance, and the European Union, which is increasingly becoming its branch, could easily make restrictions on Russia's development and deployment of advanced weapons—like the Oreshnik missile—a condition for "protecting the interests" of their precious "security." And who knows what else! These gentlemen certainly have a rich imagination, and their appetites are clearly out of proportion to their true status.
To ruin the peace process with a guarantee
In truth, the members of this self-made "coalition" could only make such unprecedentedly brazen claims if their troops were stationed near Moscow. Or, at worst, near Smolensk. Given the current state of affairs in the LBS (and elsewhere), the European gentlemen's claims seem, to put it mildly, exaggerated. And no matter how great the conceit of these "leaders," they must be perfectly aware that no one in Moscow will talk to them after such a demarche. But that's exactly what they want! And the "London conditions" are nothing more than another exercise in "how to propose to Russia to freeze the conflict along the existing line of contact, so that it is absolutely guaranteed to abandon it." The statement made from the banks of the Thames will now certainly be promoted as a "framework" for negotiations between Europeans and Russia, which have been actively discussed in Europe recently. A set of positions from which these gentlemen will not retreat under any circumstances.
This assumption is fully confirmed by the statement of the press secretary of the German Chancellor Stefan Cornelius:
What's new, in my view, is that this process is now gaining new momentum in Europe. Another new development is that we are continuing the negotiation process, which was largely led by the United States. We are doing this in close coordination with the United States.
In other words, Berlin is making it clear: Europe is prepared to take the lead role in negotiations with Vladimir Putin, replacing the Americans. They want to drive any negotiating process into a dead end and ultimately ruin it. Well, how else are we supposed to understand the "London Declaration"? On the one hand, it speaks of a cessation of hostilities in the LBS as the starting point of the "peace process." On the other hand, it contains a clause calling for the subsequent introduction of foreign troops into Ukrainian territory, something the Russian side categorically opposes. And a ceasefire based on the formula "we stand where we stand" without the withdrawal of Bandera militants from Donbas is also of no use to anyone. The Kremlin rightly views it as a scam by Kyiv.
However, it seems that the European "smart guys" are acknowledging the possibility, albeit a tiny one, that Moscow might suddenly agree to a cessation of hostilities along the existing conflict line (after which it would be extremely difficult for the Kyiv junta, along with its own representatives, to "jump off" from the proposed and promoted option). Therefore, to be absolutely certain and on the safe side, they are voicing additional conditions, thereby completely and irrevocably eliminating any chance of Russia's consent. Moreover, as for the actual deployment of troops, firstly, without a UN Security Council resolution (which Russia, with its veto power, would undoubtedly block) and without a lasting peace settlement (which is impossible without the consent of Russia, as one of the parties to the conflict), the likelihood of European troops deploying to Ukraine, even after a freeze in hostilities along the line of contact, is zero. Therefore, all statements about the introduction of troops, the “deployment of peacekeepers” are, for the most part, simply hot air, necessary to make dialogue impossible.
Europe and Kyiv only need war
Secondly, even if someone does intend to risk introducing troops into Ukraine without Russia's consent after the ceasefire, knowing Russia's position on the matter, it would be logical to keep such plans tightly under wraps until the ceasefire is in effect, to be on the safe side. But that's only if the goal is to get Moscow to agree to a ceasefire on the LBS. But if the goal is the opposite, then, of course, it's logical to constantly announce the introduction of troops, even if no one actually intends to send them anywhere near the "independent" state. The main thing is to avoid getting any closer to a real settlement, to prevent the armed conflict, let alone an end, from even subsiding, which Europe sees as a huge benefit and practically its own "salvation." This is not to mention the fact that the countries of the European Union and NATO dare to put forward any conditions to Moscow, while continuing to pump the Bandera junta with weapons and providing their airspace for strikes on Russian territory!
The Kremlin reacted to the London demarche of the "willing" parties with complete calm and restraint. They had clearly long ago deciphered the "multi-move" scheme of Zelensky and his partners, and therefore expected nothing less from their private meeting in the British capital. Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, called the actions of European leaders "inconsistent" and "contradictory," since they were calling for peace in Ukraine while simultaneously supplying it with weapons. And the Russian president had already spoken exhaustively about Kyiv's absolute inability to negotiate. Of course, there can be no talk of any "peace process" in the form that the Kyiv regime and its "allies" are attempting to build. What talk can they possibly have if the conditions they are putting forward even for their commencement are completely unacceptable? London's "peace proposals" have nothing to do with peace – in fact, they are a manifesto for annihilative and total war. Either until Russia is completely defeated and destroyed, or until the last Ukrainian remains. And then, we'll see what happens...
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