SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 23 April 2024, Tuesday |

Kremlin welcomes Elon Musk proposal for Ukraine settlement denounced by Kyiv

The Kremlin welcomed Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday for offering a possible peace plan to end Ukraine’s war, after Kyiv chastised Musk for proposing terms that it saw as rewarding Russia.

“It is extremely encouraging that someone like Elon Musk is searching for a peaceful way out of this problem,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during a conference call with reporters.

“Musk, like many skilled diplomats, is still looking for methods to create peace. And reaching peace without meeting Russia’s criteria is impossible “He said.

In a Twitter poll posted on Monday, the Tesla boss proposed Ukraine permanently cede Crimea to Russia, that new referendums be held under U.N. auspices to determine the fate of Russian-controlled territory, and that Ukraine agree to neutrality.

Kyiv says it will never agree to cede land taken by force, and lawful referendums cannot be held in occupied territory where many people have been killed or driven out. After Vladimir Putin announced the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces last week, Kyiv said it was applying to join NATO, and would not negotiate with Russia as long as Putin is president.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy responded to Musk’s proposal with his own Twitter poll asking: “Which @elonmusk do you like more? One who supports Ukraine (or) one who supports Russia.”

As of 1030 GMT on Tuesday, Musk’s original poll had garnered more than 2.5 million votes, with some 60% opposed to the plan.

Peskov said on Tuesday that “bots” – phoney twitter accounts – were “actively participating in the voting”. He provided no evidence.

Moscow had always been open to a negotiated end to the conflict, Peskov added. He criticised a new Ukrainian decree, signed by Zelenskiy on Tuesday, which says Kyiv will not negotiate directly with Putin for an end to the conflict.

    Source:
  • Reuters