Putin Questions Zelenskiy’s Legitimacy Post-Term Expiry Amid Ukraine War, Complicating Peace Negotiations

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has raised doubts about the validity of Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s presidency in Ukraine at the completion of his five-year term.

This has added complexity to the possibility of peace negotiations between the two countries.

During a televised news conference in Belarus, Putin stated that Zelenskiy’s expired term poses a legal impediment to negotiations, a position that is likely to escalate the ongoing conflict.

“With whom should we engage in negotiations?” That question is not without purpose… “Certainly, we acknowledge that the current head of state’s legitimacy has expired,” Putin declared.

This viewpoint presents substantial obstacles to peace negotiations, as Putin proposes that they should be founded on the existing front lines of the conflict.

Although Ukraine is currently under martial law as a result of Russia’s complete invasion, Zelenskiy has not yet undergone elections since his tenure has ended.

Both he and Ukraine’s allies deem this move to be appropriate in light of the wartime circumstances.

Ukrainian officials, including Ruslan Stefanchuk, the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament, have categorically rejected any allegations regarding Zelenskiy’s legality, considering them to be enemy propaganda. “Stefanchuk declared that anyone who doubts the president’s legitimacy is considered an adversary of Ukraine,”

Putin has indicated his willingness to end the war by implementing a negotiated ceasefire that recognizes the current frontlines.

Nevertheless, he underscored the significance of engaging with authorized entities in order to execute legally enforceable agreements. “In the event that it reaches that stage, it will be necessary for us to ascertain the appropriate individuals or entities with whom we can engage in negotiations, in order to ultimately execute legally enforceable agreements,” stated Putin.

Zelenskiy has consistently asserted that he finds the idea of accepting peace on Putin’s terms to be abhorrent.

He is steadfast in his determination to regain all regions that were lost, especially Crimea, which Russia seized and incorporated in 2014.

In 2022, Zelenskiy issued a directive stating that any discussions with Putin were deemed “impossible.”

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, refrained from immediately responding to Putin’s comments. However, he implied that Putin is apprehensive about the potential results of the next peace summit in Switzerland.

“He is apprehensive about the potential outcomes of the summit.” Zelenskiy argued that the world has the ability to compel Russia to achieve peace and adhere to international security principles.

The conference, held by Switzerland and without Russia, seeks to validate Zelenskiy’s legitimacy, a gesture that Putin has disregarded as simple public relations lacking legal importance.

Zelenskiy has the belief that the summit symbolizes a collective worldwide endeavor to advocate for peace and counteract Russian aggression. “The peace summit is a mechanism that will prevent Putin from continuing to deceive,” he added.

Putin’s remarks are part of a larger plan to weaken the credibility of both Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s democratic system, as cautioned by Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, earlier this year.

As the crisis progresses, the global community stays vigilant, acknowledging the intricate dynamics involved in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-says-legitimacy-ukraines-zelenskiy-is-over-2024-05-24/

(The story is published based on the data from a syndicated feed. However there can be minor changes from the original source article.)