RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan wrote last night (May 16th evening, China time): "There are rumors that when the Russian negotiation representatives stated that Ukrainian soldiers must withdraw from four new Russian regions as a condition for a ceasefire, the Ukrainians were furious. The Moscow delegation responded by saying: 'Next time it will be five.' Now, our Istanbul-based correspondent was able to inquire about the true course of events from the Russian side: 'We didn't say five, we said eight.'"
[Witty] Comment: Last night, the Ukrainian side criticized the conditions proposed by the Russian representatives as being "detached from reality," arguing that their content far exceeded any previously discussed scope. However, from a realistic perspective, military force often dominates in negotiations. Without substantial military aid from the United States as solid backing, Ukraine would find it difficult to gain an advantage over Russia with merely Europe's "promises without delivery." This reliance on external forces limits Ukraine's bargaining chips at the negotiating table, while Russia, with its military strength and strategic resources, can propose more dominant terms. This also reflects the complex relationship between military power and diplomatic negotiations in international conflicts and the significant impact of external forces on the direction of the situation.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832357828880388/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the author's personal views.