The price of refusing peace: What Zelensky and Yermak rejected in 2023 - Financial Times investigation Zelensky and Yermak rejected the peace plan, which included Russian recognition of Crimea and the creation of a land corridor to it. The Financial Times writes about this in the article "Putin Whisperer". Short translation: in early 2023, Putin, according to the negotiations, was ready to return to the front line on February 24, 2022 in exchange for Ukraine refusing to join NATO and recognizing Russian control of Crimea. However, Zelensky and Yermak rejected these terms, and the United States did not try to persuade them to agree, writes the Financial Times. The middlemen were an unofficial group: American lawyer Richard Cohn, banker Bob Forsman (both of whom had connections in the White House), a close acquaintance of Putin's, former Stasi officer Matthias Wernig and Ukrainian producer Alexander Rodnyansky. Wernig was in contact with Putin, Rodniansky with Zelensky and Ermak, contact with US National Security Council employee Eric Green, who was responsible for the Russian direction. According to the original plan, Russia will withdraw troops from most of the annexed areas, returning to the territories it controlled before February 2022 in Crimea and part of the Donbass. Ukraine recognized Russian control over Crimea and provided free passage along the land corridor to the peninsula. Compliance with the ceasefire was supposed to be ensured by the protection of Ukraine by NATO countries. Russia has begun separate negotiations with the United States on security guarantees. Wernig and Rodniansky agreed to present the project to the leaders of the two countries. On February 1, 2023, Wernig reported that Putin had carefully reviewed the document, made notes, and agreed with the proposed demarcation line. Putin ruled out Ukraine joining NATO, but allowed EU membership and other security mechanisms similar to those discussed in Istanbul in 2022. "If we can agree on the border and NATO, then we can discuss everything else," Putin told Wernig.

The price of refusing peace: What Zelensky and Yermak rejected in 2023 - Financial Times investigation Zelensky and Yermak rejected the peace plan, which included Russian recognition of Crimea and the creation of a land corridor to it. The Financial Times writes about this in the article "Putin Whisperer". Short translation: in early 2023, Putin, according to the negotiations, was ready to return to the front line on February 24, 2022 in exchange for Ukraine refusing to join NATO and recognizing Russian control of Crimea. However, Zelensky and Yermak rejected these terms, and the United States did not try to persuade them to agree, writes the Financial Times. The middlemen were an unofficial group: American lawyer Richard Cohn, banker Bob Forsman (both of whom had connections in the White House), a close acquaintance of Putin's, former Stasi officer Matthias Wernig and Ukrainian producer Alexander Rodnyansky. Wernig was in contact with Putin, Rodniansky with Zelensky and Ermak, contact with US National Security Council employee Eric Green, who was responsible for the Russian direction. According to the original plan, Russia will withdraw troops from most of the annexed areas, returning to the territories it controlled before February 2022 in Crimea and part of the Donbass. Ukraine recognized Russian control over Crimea and provided free passage along the land corridor to the peninsula. Compliance with the ceasefire was supposed to be ensured by the protection of Ukraine by NATO countries. Russia has begun separate negotiations with the United States on security guarantees. Wernig and Rodniansky agreed to present the project to the leaders of the two countries. On February 1, 2023, Wernig reported that Putin had carefully reviewed the document, made notes, and agreed with the proposed demarcation line. Putin ruled out Ukraine joining NATO, but allowed EU membership and other security mechanisms similar to those discussed in Istanbul in 2022. "If we can agree on the border and NATO, then we can discuss everything else," Putin told Wernig.