‘No Miracle, But We’ve Advanced’: Russia-Ukraine Peace Summit Results

12/10/19
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held their first face-to-face meeting Monday at a four-way summit in Paris with the French and German leaders as mediators. The last time the so-called Normandy summit met to work out a deal to end the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine was in 2016. “It’s still a draw,” Zelenskiy was quoted as saying when asked which side emerged with a victory after the latest talks. The four leaders plan to meet again in four months. Here’s a look at what the sides have agreed on at the marathon bilateral and four-way talks:

Prisoner exchange
— Putin, Zelenskiy and the French and German leaders agreed to push for an "all for all" prisoner exchange by the end of the year, according to a joint communique.

— Zelenskiy said he expects 72 Ukrainian prisoners to return home in an all-for-all swap as soon as Dec. 24.

Ceasefire
— Putin and Zelenskiy agreed to commit to a full and comprehensive implementation of a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine before the end of 2019, according to the communique.

— The sides have agreed on a troop withdrawal from three lines of contact by March 2020, German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quoted as saying.

— Zelenskiy and Putin differed on what steps should be taken to restore Ukraine’s control of its Russian border. Putin insists that the separatist regions hold local elections first, while Zelenskiy says Ukraine needs to regain control of the border first.

Gas transit
— Zelenskiy said Ukraine and Russia had "unblocked" the issue of gas transit and the countries' advisers would work on the details of an agreement.

— He said Kiev and Moscow could reach an agreement on a new gas transit deal before the end of the year, and saw scope for compromise between their respective demands.

— Zelenskiy said that they had taken the option of a one-year deal off the table and that he asked for a 10-year deal.

What they said
— "Now we need to carry on working very, very hard, there is no question about that, but there is momentum again, movement," Merkel told a joint news conference.

— "We have a lot of work to do but my feeling from this meeting here today is that there is goodwill to resolve difficult questions," Merkel said.

— "We saw the differences today. We didn't find the miracle solution, but we have advanced on it," French President Emmanuel Macron said at the news conference.

— "We know there are disagreements on the calendar and phasing and we had a long discussion on it, but we said let's give ourselves four months," Macron said.

— "I think we will find something in the middle," Zelenskiy said in televised comments.

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Drawdown said:

Merkel looks bad. She probably couldn't care less at this point.

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Rogue Valley said:

Merkel would like Zelenskyy/Ukraine to crumble so she can get on with Russia's NordStream2 gas pipeline and re-open Russia to German business.

Macron is a Gaullist and believes we need Russia in our lives to enjoy a big European Kumbaya celebration.

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Rogue Valley said:

Merkel would like Zelenskyy/Ukraine to crumble so she can get on with Russia's NordStream2 gas pipeline and re-open Russia to German business.

Macron is a Gaullist and believes we need Russia in our lives to enjoy a big European Kumbaya celebration.

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Rogue Valley said:

‘No Miracle, But We’ve Advanced’: Russia-Ukraine Peace Summit Results


Normandy Four meeting yesterday in Paris. Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Volodmyr Zelenskyy.



Looks like the meeting mentions the political provisions of Minsk II but not the military ones. There was no mention at all of Crimea. Neglecting to demand the return of Crimea is a massive failure on the part of Zelenskyy. No "red lines" crossed so far. However, the 'Steinmeier formula' defining the algorithm for holding local elections in the Donbas may potentially be harmful to Ukraine if its final version would stipulate holding the voting without Ukrainian control of the territory and border. This is one of the "red lines" Zelenskyy said is non-negotiable.

Crowds in Kyiv this morning waiting to hear if Zelenskyy crossed any 'red lines'. He did not.

Related: Ukraine, Russia Agree On Full Cease-Fire, 'All-For-All' Prisoner Swap By End Of 2019

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Paradoxical said:

Thank you Donald Trump

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Rogue Valley said:

Donald Trump actions on July 25 and afterward weakened Zelenskyy's position at Paris and strengthened Putin's position.

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Paradoxical said:

Funny thing that Ukraine doesn't know this. Someone should tell them. Maybe you can go over to Ukraine and let them know?

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Rogue Valley said:

I already have. And you?

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Paradoxical said:

You let the Ukranians know this? Good on you.

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Rogue Valley said:

You bet.

Good on you to care about Ukraine :lamo

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Paradoxical said:

I bet they appreciated you warning them that aid was slightly delayed. You must be some sort of super hero warrior.

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Rogue Valley said:

They knew that before Trump picked up the phone on the 25th. Their embassy in D.C. was asking questions of State early that day.

You must be a newbie-cult-super-hero-warrior defending the Stable Genius here at DP. Lol. I'm in awe of your mad skillz.

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Paradoxical said:

I thought you said YOU warned them that aid was withheld for a little while and that Trump was going to give them more than blankees and tents?

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Jredbaron96 said:

You mean Javelins that they have to store in West Ukraine and aren't supposed to use against Russian armor?

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Jredbaron96 said:

You mean Javelins that they have to store in West Ukraine and aren't supposed to use against Russian armor?

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Paradoxical said:

Maybe you guys think blakeys and teddy bears are better? Perhaps they could give the Russians a hug and a teddy to stop them from invading?

From the far left blog site deceptively called "Business Insider':

Meanwhile, David Holmes, a top staffer at the US embassy in Ukraine and witness in the impeachment inquiry, told House investigators on Thursday that the Javelins provide an "important strategic deterrent." He added that the weapons are "not actively employed in combat operations right now."

Buried in the middle of the story because they don't want people to have the whole truth.

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Jredbaron96 said:

So basically, nothing that actually contradicts what I said.

Anywho, it's pointless anyway. Javelins aren't the secret weapon that will finally drive the Russians out of Crimea. That is something the Ukrainians will just have to deal with.

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Paradoxical said:

So, umm, your point that they couldn't use the javeins is a smokescreen. Why is it that I always have to get to the bottom of these phony stories by leftist blogs such as Business Insider?

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Paradoxical said:

So, umm, your point that they couldn't use the javeins is a smokescreen. Why is it that I always have to get to the bottom of these phony stories by leftist blogs such as Business Insider?

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Rogue Valley said:

Lol. You're such a Trump tool.

Far From the Front Lines, Javelin Missiles Go Unused in Ukraine | Foreign Policy

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Paradoxical said:

I read it. It confirms what I posted. But thanks for posting it for others. Seems that you guys can only find links that support what I say. Nit unusual though when I am right 99% of the time.

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