Putin agreed to a two-day pause in the intensive attacks on Kyiv in exchange for no strikes on Moscow and St Petersburg during CIA Director John Retcliffe’s visit to Russia, journalist Pavlyuchenko reported. The Kremlin confirmed the trip, but stated that no meeting between Retcliffe and Putin had taken place or was planned.
Briefly about the main points
- Pavlyuchenko announced a brief mutual agreement to limit strikes.
- The US has reportedly warned the Kremlin of measures against Russia’s southern ports.
- According to the journalist, Putin has ruled out any compromises regarding the Donbas.
- Russia has set out conditions for halting attacks on the energy sector and ports.
- The Kremlin described Retcliffe’s visit as contacts between the security services.
The role of the CIA Director in the negotiations
Pavlyuchenko claims that the Director of the CIA said To Putin on his willingness to convey Russia’s proposals to Ukraine and to personally chair the negotiations.
Signals regarding Russian ports and Moscow’s stance on the Donbas
According to Pavlyuchenko, the US has informed the Kremlin that Ukraine is preparing a «set of measures» capable of blocking Russia’s southern ports and significantly limiting its strategic and export potential.
Moscow was asked to agree to compromises regarding the Donbas in order to bring the fighting to a swift end. According to the journalist, Putin rejected the proposal and stated that There will be no ceasefire this year.
In response to the US proposal to territorial compromises Faced with the threat of new, tough sanctions, he reportedly merely did not rule out the theoretical possibility of establishing an economic zone in the Donetsk region under US administration, without Ukraine’s involvement.
Energy-related conditions and the Kremlin’s official line
Pavlyuchenko reported that Putin had expressed his willingness to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and ports only on condition that Ukraine completely ceased long-range attacks at a distance of more than 200 kilometres from the front line. Among other demands was a ceasefire attacks on Crimea, civilian infrastructure and oil refineries in Russia.
According to this view, Russia will continue to strike targets it considers to be «supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces». The journalist also stated that Putin had ruled out a full-scale mobilisation, whilst hinting at the possibility of it being carried out covertly.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the visit Retcliffe was linked to direct contacts between the intelligence services of the two countries. He denied that a meeting between the CIA Director and Putin had taken place or been planned.
