The Kremlin has firmly rebuffed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's proposed "peace plan" aimed at resolving the protracted conflict between Ukraine and Russia. This latest development unfolded during a briefing on November 18, as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscow’s unwavering stance against any arrangements the Kremlin finds unacceptable. Erdoğan's plan, which was anticipated to play a central role at the forthcoming G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has seemingly hit a wall before it could even be discussed by both leaders.
According to Peskov, the Turkish President’s initiative—dubbed as potentially proposing to freeze hostilities and postpone discussions on Ukraine's NATO membership for up to ten years—was labeled "a priori unacceptable". His comments underlined the Kremlin’s continuing emphasis on the conditions outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this year.
Notably, Peskov highlighted another significant aspect: the Kremlin was not privy to the specifics of Erdoğan's plan until it surfaced through media channels. This detail sheds light on the prevailing state of communication—or lack thereof—between Moscow and Ankara on this contentious issue. The proposal is seen as Erdoğan's bid to reaffirm Turkey's role as a mediator, reflecting his past attempts to broker peace talks since the conflict escalated over two years ago.
At the heart of Erdoğan's peace plan is the suggestion of freezing the frontline between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Reportedly, the proposal envisions utilizing international forces to establish security arrangements and creating demilitarized zones, particularly around the Donbas region, where fierce fighting has been concentrated.
Turkiye seemingly views the urgent need to cease the hostilities as the primary objective, planning to tackle the myriad issues surrounding occupied territories at a later stage. This approach aims to potentially stabilize the strife-riddled region amid changing geopolitical dynamics.
Interestingly, there are undercurrents indicating discussions about similar conflict resolution strategies even within U.S. circles. Reports indicate members of President-elect Donald Trump's team may be toying with analogous ideas aiming for some form of temporary cessation of hostilities, echoing Erdoğan's framework. This suggests there is wider international contemplation over how to address the situation beyond mere military strategies.
Peskov's dismissal of the peace plan didn't stop there; he elaborated on the Kremlin's characterization of the proposal as untenable. He noted, "We have taken note of these media reports, but we have no concrete information concerning the details or potential effectiveness of this initiative," signifying the strong skepticism prevailing from the Russian side.
Despite Erdoğan's intention of presenting himself as the peace advocate, Turkey's overtures have not been universally embraced, particularly by Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have maintained stark resistance to any peace negotiations lacking strict adherence to their national sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Volodymyr Zelensky’s framework for peace directly ties back to Ukraine regaining control over occupied regions, which places Erdoğan's plan at odds with the core stipulations set by Ukraine.
Should peace ever be inching closer, it remains to be seen how efforts from Turkey and potential American influence can harmonize with Ukraine’s steadfast principled approach. For now, Erdoğan's ambitions for peace appear stymied by the Kremlin's rigid dismissal, leaving much uncertainty as the war remains at high-stakes with no end visibly forthcoming.
