In a series of remarks on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a United Nations-led temporary administration governing Ukraine, said he believes President Donald Trump was sincere about ending the Ukraine war and suggested that Trump’s bid to annex Greenland was “rooted in history.”
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir ... More
While addressing Russian naval personnel in Muramansk, Putin said he believes a temporary administration “under the auspices of the U.N., the United States, European countries and our partners” could take control of Ukraine and hold fresh elections in the country.
The Russian president claimed this would be similar to precedents set by earlier UN administration missions in places like the former Yugoslavia, East Timor and New Guinea.
Putin, whose administration has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the Volodymyr Zelenskyy-led Ukrainian government, said such a temporary administration could then hold “democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people.”
The Russian leader implied that such a move would be necessary for ending the war in Ukraine, saying a new Ukrainian government would be able to engage in talks about a peace treaty and “sign legitimate documents which would be recognized worldwide and be reliable and stable.”
Putin also suggested that more countries should be involved in the peace negotiations process, including North Korea, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and other BRICS member nations.
Zelenskyy and his administration have yet to respond to Putin’s remarks.
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When asked about the progress of the ongoing peace negotiations, Putin said: “In my opinion, the newly elected president of the United States is sincerely wishing for the end of this conflict.” He added that Trump has a “number of reasons” to push for the end of the war—which he refused to elaborate on—but reiterated: “I think it's a sincere desire.”
Speaking at Russia’s Arctic Forum in Murmansk, Putin spoke about the growing geopolitical competition to control the Arctic region and brought up the issue of Trump's push to annex Greenland. Putin said that at first glance, this move may surprise people, but Washington’s push to take control of the territory should not be seen as “extravagant rhetoric on the part of the new US administration,” and these plans are “serious.” The Russian leader then said the U.S. has been pushing this idea for over a century, and even deployed its military to the island during the second world war to prevent Nazi occupation. Putin then said he believes the Trump administration’s overtures towards annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory are serious, and “these plans are deeply rooted in history.”