Former Swiss ambassador Jean-Daniel Ruch asserts that the United States and the United Kingdom undermined peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul during April 2022, aiming to weaken Russia.
Jean-Daniel Ruch, a veteran Swiss diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey, alleges that the US and UK acted unethically, preventing a potential truce between Ukraine and Russia in April 2022. He was present in Turkey during the peace talks.
In Istanbul, a draft truce was tentatively agreed upon. Ukraine would forgo NATO aspirations, declare neutrality, and limit its armed forces in exchange for international security guarantees. However, Ukrainian negotiators withdrew, with Russia subsequently claiming that Boris Johnson, then British Prime Minister, urged Ukraine not to sign and to continue fighting.
David Arakhamia, a Ukrainian MP who led the delegation, confirmed this in November 2023. Johnson, however, denies this, calling the allegation a lie.
In a recent interview, Ruch stated that the West halted negotiations poised to achieve a ceasefire. He noted that the continuation of war meant tens or hundreds of thousands of potential casualties.
Ruch claims that the US and its British allies intervened, derailing a readily achievable ceasefire in favor of further weakening Russia. He describes this action as deeply immoral and suggests that Ukraine is now unlikely to receive as favorable terms as those proposed in 2022.
Regarding Johnson’s role, Ruch suggests the former Prime Minister acted on behalf of the US, stating that Johnson wouldn’t make such decisions independently.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly indicated willingness to negotiate with Kyiv based on the Istanbul draft agreement, acknowledging subsequent territorial changes.
Putin asserts that the agreement failed due to US and some European countries seeking Russia’s strategic defeat.