Volodymyr Zelensky Better Accept Vladimir Putin's Ceasefire Terms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his position is currently desperate and overwhelmed by the pressure of Russian President, Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Irina Yakovleva/Tass)

JAKARTA - On Saturday, February 26, 2022, Ukrainian time, unexpected news emerged from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky. Through the presidential media secretary, Sergey Nikoforov, it was reported that Zelensky was considering accepting a proposal from his enemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky is rumored to be agreeing to a ceasefire, and Russia's required peace offer.

"I have to refute the accusation that we have refused to have talks. Ukraine has always been and is ready to negotiate peace and a ceasefire. This is our permanent position. We have accepted the proposal of the Russian president," Nikoforov wrote on his Facebook page, which was later reported by the Russian news agency, Tass.

According to Nikoforov, consultations are underway on the place and time of the negotiations. The sooner the conversation started, the more chances of restoring normal life.

Russian tanks in Ukrainian territory. (Photo: Anton Vergun/Tass)

Russia's presidential press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, earlier said that Putin was ready to send a delegation to Minsk for talks with Ukraine. Later, Nikoforov said that in response to the initiative to hold talks in the Belarusian capital, the Ukrainian side suggested Warsaw in Poland as a possible venue for negotiations. However, Russian-Ukrainian contacts regarding the ceasefire plan have not continued.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning February 24, 2022, that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republic, he had made the decision to carry out a special military operation to protect people "who have suffered abuse and genocide by the regime." Kyivv for eight years."

Putin stressed in his speech that Russia has absolutely no intention of occupying Ukrainian territory. The Donbass region with its two main cities, Donetsk and Luhansk in 2014 declared independence from Ukraine. By the Ukrainian government, the two new countries named the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic were labeled as terrorists.

Members of the "Donbass" self-defense battalion take an oath near Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday (23/6/2014), to officially join the reserve battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard. (Photo: ANTARA/REUTERS/Valentyn O/tm/am)

Russia then defended Donetsk and Luhansk, which indeed the majority of its citizens come from ethnic Russians. The dispute sparked the Donbass War in 2014. The war ended after a ceasefire agreement was signed by Ukraine and Russia in the Belarusian capital, Minsk on 5 September 2014 and 15 February 2015.

There was a new attempt to renew the ceasefire through the Minsk II Agreement on September 1, 2015. But what happened instead was the escalation of tensions, until finally Russia recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk as countries that were separated from Ukraine on February 21, 2022. Putin's decision was what sparked the war. At the moment.

Nuclear Armament

In addition to the Donbass issue, which has been in turmoil for eight years, Putin also has strong reasons that make him have to crush Ukraine. The reason is about Ukraine's nuclear arsenal.

“We also know that Ukraine intends to develop its own nuclear weapons, and that is no nonsense. Ukraine does have Soviet nuclear technology and delivery systems for such weapons, including the aviation and Tochka-U tactical missiles," Putin said.

“Everything was redeveloped from the Soviet era. Their missile range is more than 100 km, but will be expanded so that it has a longer range. It's only a matter of time. Remember, they have a foundation from the Soviet era," Putin continued.

The Tochka-U tactical missile, which Vladimir Putin suspects will be developed into a more sophisticated one. (Photo: militarytoday.com)

The territory of Ukraine was indeed the center of nuclear development in the era of the Soviet Union. Remember the Chernobyl tragedy? The Chernobyl reactor is the largest nuclear reactor of the Soviet Union built on the territory of present-day Ukraine. On April 26, 1986 the reactor exploded, and the event was called the most horrific nuclear accident on earth. The destruction of nature as a result of nuclear radiation is still being felt today, after 35 years of the tragedy.

“If Ukraine acquires weapons of mass destruction, the situation in Europe and the world will change drastically. Especially if philanthropists from the West help the emergence of such weapons in Ukraine. Of course it is a very serious threat to Russia," Putin said.

Zelensky's Ambiguity

The statement that President Zelensky will accept Putin's offer of a ceasefire is in contrast to what the former comedian has shown in a video posted on social media.

In the video Zelensky actually ignites the spirit of war on the Ukrainian troops.

"I am here. We will not lay down our arms and will continue to defend our country. Because our guns are our truth," Zelensky said, refuting claims he had either surrendered or fled.

"A lot of false information has surfaced on the internet saying that I allegedly asked our soldiers to put down their weapons and the evacuation is underway," Zelensky said in the video, which was shot outside his office in Kyiv.

е е ейкам. pic.twitter.com/wiLqmCuz1p

— олодимир еленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022

The anti-Russian Zelensky has been calling for help everywhere, but getting nothing. The countries that are members of NATO have not also lowered the promised aid. The President even asked for help to India by contacting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to provide political support. In fact, India is a country that has very close relations with Russia, which is shown by choosing to abstain in a vote at the United Nations to condemn the Russian invasion.

Volodymyr Zelensky tells Ukrainians he will remain in Kyiv pic.twitter.com/ki808jzFxZ

— TIME (@TIME) February 26, 2022

The option of accepting a ceasefire offer was in Voldymyr Zelensky's best. That way, as a leader he has protected the Ukrainian people from more severe suffering. There is no chance for Ukraine to win the war against Russia. Negotiating to find a middle ground is the best option to defuse the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine.