Moscow (TDI): Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed Friday to put Ukraine under external governance under the United Nations aegis as part of efforts to reach a peaceful settlement.
Speaking to the crew of a Russian nuclear submarine in televised address broadcast early Friday, Putin reaffirmed his claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term expired in 2024, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace agreement.
Under Ukraine’s constitution it is illegal for the country to hold polls while it’s under martial law.
Putin claimed that any deal that is inked with the current Ukrainian government could be challenged by its successors and said new polls could be held under external governance.
“Under the auspices of the US, with the United States, even with European nations, and, of course, with our partners and friends, we could discuss the possibility of introduction of temporary governance in Ukraine,” Putin said, adding that it would allow the nation to “hold democratic elections, to bring to power a legitimate government that enjoys the trust of the people, and then begin talks with them on a peace agreement”
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Putin added that such external governance is just “one of the options,” without elaborating.
His remarks came hours after the conclusion of a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron that considered plans to deploy forces to Ukraine to cement an eventual peace agreement.
Macron said “several” other countries want to be part of the force alongside France and the UK.
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Russia has warned it wouldn’t accept any forces from NATO countries as part of a prospective peacekeeping force.
Macron and other participants of the Paris summit on Thursday accused Moscow of only pretending to want a negotiated settlement.
