Statement by Russian negotiator triggers dispute among Putin confidants: Is there an internal power struggle raging in the Kremlin?
Created: 04/03/2022 04:54
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
In the Ukraine war, there is suddenly an internal dispute in Russia.
Vladimir Putin's close circle apparently does not agree with a partial withdrawal.
Munich - The Ukraine conflict continues with all its severity.
This map shows where the Ukraine war is raging.
Heavy clashes between Ukrainian and Russian troops occurred in Mariupol, Izyum and Chernihiv in particular.
According to the US, Russia wants to concentrate airstrikes on four areas.
Still, there is hope for areas around the capital Kyiv after Moscow announced a partial withdrawal there.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's Interior Ministry has confirmed the withdrawal, while Western countries remain skeptical about the real intentions of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
Nonetheless, the announcement by Russia seems to be cause for cautious optimism.
In the background of the Ukraine crisis, this could actually be a first glimmer of hope.
However, Putin's close circle apparently evaluates the situation completely differently.
Immediately after the announcement of the withdrawal decision by the Russian negotiating delegation, there was harsh criticism from those close to the Kremlin.
In sight: the Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinski.
Statements by the Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky regarding a Russian withdrawal from areas around Kyiv caused a stir among friends of the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
© Maxim Guchek/dpa
Ukraine war: surprising turnaround in Russia negotiations - withdrawal of Putin's troops around Kyiv
On Tuesday
(March 29)
Russia suddenly took a surprising turn at the Ukraine talks in Turkey.
The head of the Russian delegation, negotiator Vladimir Medinsky, stated that they wanted to reduce attacks on Kyiv and Chernihiv and thus initiate a "military de-escalation".
The Russian diplomat has repeatedly described this as a "big step" by Moscow towards "de-escalation".
In the West, this announcement was largely greeted with caution, but skepticism about Moscow remains.
Opinions about the Russian announcement differ.
The US Department of Defense emphasized that there is no real withdrawal from the areas around Kyiv.
On the other hand, an adviser to the Ukrainian interior minister emphasized that Russian troops would actually withdraw - including from Chernobyl.
Sometimes different assessments of Western countries and Ukraine on the situation in the Ukraine war are not new.
Ukraine war: Apparently internal dispute in Moscow over negotiations - Kadyrov criticizes diplomat Medinski
Unexpected at this point, however, is a sudden internal dispute in Russia over the results of the negotiations.
Those close to Vladimir Putin openly complained about reducing the attacks on Kyiv and shot at negotiators Medinsky.
So does Chechen leader and Putin friend Ramzan Kadyrov.
In a video post, he accused Medinski of “serious mistakes”, as reported by the
picture
.
"We will not make any concessions," Kadyrov assured in his message.
Medinski used "the wrong wording".
Putin will not give up his intentions so easily: "We have our commander, the president and supreme commander.
If you think that he will just give up what he has started, as we were told today, then that will never happen.” He also promised that Kyiv would be invaded.
His message to Chechen militias: "We must finish what we started."
Ukraine war: Putin propagandist with sharp angry speech against Medinski - "crazy statements"
The harsh criticism of Medinski also extended to media close to the Kremlin.
The well-known Putin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov raged in a speech against Medinsky.
He called Medinski's statements "crazy" and accused him of "demoralizing the Russian people and the military".
"He shouldn't act like a spokesman for the Ukrainian side," the propagandist said.
Putin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov raged against Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky.
© Sergei Karpukhin via www.imago-images.de
With his words, Medinsky is sabotaging the tasks assigned by the "commander in chief" Putin, which must be "completely" fulfilled, Solovyov said.
Only Putin can change or cancel the tasks, which is not the case, the Kremlin propagandist emphasized in his angry speech.
"He did not change a single letter of the tasks he set: denazification, demilitarization, neutral status and the independence and security of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics," quoted
Bild
Solovyov.
Later, in his Telegram channel, he even called for Medinski to be replaced by "a professional representative of the diplomatic corps."
In this way, one can avoid "oversights".
Solovyov questioned Medinski's qualifications: "Medinski is not a professional diplomat and does not master the art of precise and unambiguous formulation that excludes rumours."
Ukraine war: power struggle in the Kremlin?
- Putin environment in the public conflict about the results of the negotiations
The public conflict and the criticism of a Russian state agency could point to a split within the Kremlin and its environment.
Amidst this verbal spat, Western intelligence agencies believe Vladimir Putin is being misguided by his advisers and misinformed about the Ukraine war.
Now close associates of Putin are suddenly coming to the fore and openly criticizing the Russian negotiating delegation.
Is there an internal power struggle between different camps in Moscow to specifically influence the situation in Ukraine?
Is one camp trying to persuade Putin to find a diplomatic solution, while the other camp wants to intensify attacks?
(bb)