Putin wants an “interim administration” in Ukraine and a presidential election.

The Russian dictator proposed discussing the establishment of an interim administration in Ukraine, under the auspices of the UN and several other countries, to conduct elections and form a “workable government.” Following this, he stated that it would be possible to initiate negotiations on a peace treaty and sign “legitimate documents that will be recognized globally and will be reliable.”

The White House National Security Council responded, asserting that “the system of governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and the people of the country.”

Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn advised Putin to “take pills to stimulate brain activity” to understand whom he should engage with to end the war.

The UN Secretary-General also dismissed Putin’s proposal, emphasizing that Ukraine has a legitimate government that must be respected. The ISW observed that Putin is attempting to introduce a new demand into discussions seeking to resolve the war, aligning with the Kremlin’s longstanding efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government.

“The Kremlin continues to hold negotiations hostage and seeks to extract additional concessions from the West,” the analysts noted.