Putin Shows 'Signed Peace Agreement' with Ukraine

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Vladimir Putin
Image copyright: Пресс-служба Президента России [via Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

  • Footage from last weekend's meeting between Vladimir Putin and African leaders shows the Russian president displaying an alleged peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine which he says was signed during a peacekeeping negotiation in Turkey in the spring of 2022.

  • Putin displayed the document after the delegation of senior African officials — led by South African Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa — traveled to St. Petersburg on Saturday, having been in Kyiv the day before. The delegation was the latest attempt at seeking to promote Russia-Ukraine peace talks, endeavors so far attempted by Turkey and China without any apparent signs of success.

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The Spin

Pro-Russia narrative

As Putin said, Russia was never opposed to holding negotiations. Such talks, mediated by Turkey, were in fact held in the spring of last year. But after Ukraine signed a peace agreement and then, after Western pressure, turned around and threw it away, why should Russia again trust Ukraine?

WION

Pro-establishment narrative

Ukraine is a sovereign country that makes all its own decisions. The idea that Boris Johnson forced Ukraine's hand in how to proceed in peace negotiations is insane. He simply warned that the country that's already invaded Ukraine's borders can't be trusted on peace talks — much like trying to negotiate with a crocodile that's got your leg.

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Public figures in this story

Vladimir Putin

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO