Putin insists on keeping current solutions to Donbas conflict

Russian President Putin told a Nov. 14 press
conference that he won’t agree to other means to resolve the armed conflict in
Donbas than the political mechanisms currently in place. He specifically
referred to the need for Ukraine to renew the current law on Donbas special
status, the need to fulfill the Minsk Accords and the need to meet with
Ukrainian President Zelensky only within the Normandy Format (including France
and Germany). In particular, Putin told the press conference in Brasilia that
he declined the offer by the Kazakh president to conduct a bilateral meeting
with Zelensky in Kazakhstan. “There is no other mechanism than the Normandy
Format, and nothing else is foreseen,” Putin said.

As for the Ukrainian law on Donbas special status,
Putin pointed out that it expires this year and needs to be renewed. He warned
Ukraine’s parliament against changing it. “If something is approved that is not
agreed upon with the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, then everything
will hit a dead end immediately,” Putin said, adding, “Why is this (Steinmeier)
formula needed if there won’t be the very law on special status? The formula is
needed for implementing this law.”

He also warned Ukraine’s foreign minister against trying
to exit the Minsk Accords. “How? Then what are we going to discuss in the
Normandy Format?,” Putin asked rhetorically. He called for continuing the
current process of withdrawing forces along the entire separation line in
Donbas.

Zenon Zawada: Russian
President Putin’s position makes sense because the current political mechanisms
in place work to his advantage. And the Zelensky administration doesn’t have
the ability to exit the Minsk Accords and implement a new solution for various
reasons that include its lack of political experience and lack of credibility
internationally. So Zelensky’s options at this point are to capitulate to
Putin’s demands or extend the warfare. We believe he will try to capitulate in
the nicest sounding way possible.