Photo: Getty images
The Kremlin has once again denied Ukraine’s sovereignty, making any negotiations impossible. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that such actions indicate Russia’s unwillingness to end the war.
On 16 February, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow had adjusted its approach to the talks, claiming that Ukraine has a “deficit” of sovereignty. This reiterates the Kremlin’s propaganda thesis that allows it to ignore the possibility of a peaceful settlement.
In addition, the Kremlin media used an interview with Viktor Medvedchuk to spread a narrative about the alleged illegitimacy of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Moscow also invited Donald Trump to the 9 May parade in an attempt to present Putin as Trump’s equal and to emphasise Russia’s status as a “superpower”.
