Ukraine conflict could have ended in Spring 2022 – Kiev’s top MP – Analysis

David Arakhamia, the head of President Vladimir Zelensky’s parliamentary faction and the chief negotiator at the peace talks in Istanbul, has admitted that Russia was ready to stop the fighting if Ukraine agreed to remain neutral. However, Arakhamia stated that the West advised Kiev to keep fighting and not sign any agreements with Moscow. He explained that Russia’s main goal was for Ukraine to accept neutrality, similar to Finland, and commit to not joining NATO. However, agreeing to neutrality would have required changing Ukraine’s constitution and there was also a lack of trust in Russia’s intentions. Arakhamia also revealed that British then-PM Boris Johnson arrived in Kiev and encouraged Ukrainian officials to keep fighting. Johnson’s role in scuttling the peace talks was previously revealed in May 2022 by Ukrayinska Pravda, but it had not been officially acknowledged by Johnson or the US government. Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed that Moscow and Kiev had signed a draft agreement on permanent neutrality and security guarantees at the talks in Istanbul. However, Ukraine reneged on the deal after Russia withdrew its troops from the vicinity of Kiev. This withdrawal was seen as a Ukrainian military victory by Western governments and media, leading to continued conflict.

Source: RT news: Ukraine conflict could have ended in Spring 2022 – Kiev’s top MP