Russia and Ukraine were supposed to hold secret talks on a partial ceasefire, the American publication The Washington Post reported, citing diplomats and officials .
According to the sources, the warring parties were supposed to hold talks in Qatar on an agreement to stop attacks on energy infrastructure in both countries. However, the surprise offensive of the Ukrainian army in the Kursk region has thwarted the negotiations, which were supposed to take place this month.
It is noted that Kiev and Moscow intended to send delegations to Doha this month for the respective talks. It is indicated that a possible agreement would amount to a partial ceasefire.
A diplomat familiar with the situation said Qatar had been discussing a moratorium on energy strikes with Kiev and Moscow for the past two months. According to him, both sides have agreed to hold the summit in Doha, with minor details remaining to be specified.
Negotiations, brokered by the Qataris, failed miserably following the invasion of the ZSU in the Kursk region in the early hours of August 6. Moscow's delegation described this as an "escalation" and Kiev had not warned Doha of its cross-border offensive. The White House declined to comment on this information.
Some negotiators had hoped that the partial agreement could eventually turn into a peace treaty to end the war. Ukrainian and Russian officials have not met face-to-face for talks since the early months of the war, when delegations from both sides met for talks in Istanbul. These negotiations ultimately failed. There were also unsuccessful negotiations in Belarus.
While Kiev may have improved its future negotiating position thanks to the invasion, the likelihood of peace talks to come appears to have diminished. Putin publicly vowed this week not to soften his negotiating stance. Putin's demands are clear – capitulation of Ukraine, which is expressed in its refusal to join NATO and 1/5 of its territories currently occupied by the Russian army (including Crimea). Kiev, for its part, wants a “fair“ peace, which is expressed in the withdrawal of the Russian army from Ukraine.