Kateryna Chornovol 23:49, 02.11.24

Nobody knows about such negotiations – precisely because non-public diplomacy is the most successful, the editor of the publication claims.

Ukraine and Russia are holding confidential talks to discuss possible concessions, writes   Alice Botha,  political editor of the German newspaper Die Zeit .

According to her, such negotiations include mutual deterrence from attacks on energy infrastructure, prisoner exchange, return of illegally taken Ukrainian children and a grain deal. As stated in the material, the negotiations were held in Copenhagen, Kyiv, Malta, Davos, and also in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, where even representatives of China were present.

Some of these talks failed. The Black Sea agreement expired after just over a year. Meanwhile, Qatar-led talks on infrastructure protection reached a dead end when the Kursk operation began, writes Botha.

Other diplomatic efforts were more successful and both sides benefited from them. A number of such negotiations are unknown to anyone – precisely because non-public diplomacy is the most successful.

Non-public diplomacy, or so-called track-two, is designed to test the limits of the possible. What is Ukraine ready for? Can the question of the future of the Crimean peninsula be postponed? In what areas will Russia agree to make concessions? Such questions are discussed non-publicly and not at the highest level, the editor claims. 

“Imagine what would happen in Ukraine if rumors suddenly appeared that President Zelensky was ready to cede territory. But when Ukrainian and Russian officials, political advisers and political scientists talk about it confidentially, the other side knows where there is room to maneuver. And where there is not,” writes Alisa Bota.

She notes that German officials who call for a resolution to the war through diplomacy rather than weapons are aware of the ongoing processes. However, when they talk about peace, they mean the capitulation of Ukraine.

“The question is no longer whether the negotiations will take place. The question is when and how. One thing is of decisive importance: Vladimir Putin must be ready for this,” the author concluded. 

Negotiations with Russia

At the end of October, the well-known Financial Times reported that Ukraine and Russia were secretly negotiating a mutual cessation of air  strikes on energy infrastructure facilities . It was noted that such an agreement was in the interests of both countries.

Adviser to the head of the Presidential Office Mikhail Podolyak, commenting on this publication, emphasized that this is not the first time he has heard about alleged negotiations mediated by Qatar to stop attacks on energy facilities. But a logical question arises – is it possible that the Russian Federation will voluntarily stop such attacks, given that only intentions to escalate the war are announced.

(C)UNIAN 2024