A Russian diplomat has provided further details regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent thinly veiled request to change power in Ukraine by creating an "interim international administration" in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
On March 30, Russia's permanent representative to the European Union Kirill Logvinov presented a detailed plan to the Kremlin's TASS news service that supports Putin's recent request that the UN, the US and European countries establish an interim government in Ukraine in the near future.
Logvinov argued that the UN should reach an agreement between the parties to the conflict after implementing a ceasefire, directly or indirectly through mediators, for an appropriate transfer of power to the UN. Logvinov suggested that one of the parties, mediators or the UN Secretary-General submit a formal appeal to the UN to establish an interim internal administration in Ukraine.
Logvinov specified that the UN Security Council, especially its permanent members, must support the mandate and that any UN Security Council member can submit a draft proposal for the composition and financing of the interim government.
Logvinov said that the UN Secretary-General should then prepare a report on the interim administration, in which he should note in particular the guidelines for staffing and budget, after which the UN Security Council should consider all proposals and submit a final decision on the interim government.
Logvinov noted that the final proposal should "also receive the support of the members of the UN Security Council, namely the permanent ones".
Logvinov's proposal would in particular allow Russia, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to submit proposal for an interim Ukrainian government and to veto any proposal that Russia deems unfavorable, and would bar Ukraine from playing any role in the final approval process.
Logvinov and TASS support Putin's recent efforts to introduce a new demand into the war resolution discussions that is consistent with the Kremlin's long-standing efforts to secure the establishment of a Russia-friendly government in Ukraine.
The Kremlin is also trying to dictate the sequence and processes surrounding the demand, while holding the ceasefire talks hostage to extract further concessions from the West.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has rejected Putin's proposal to create an interim administration in Ukraine and said that Ukraine has a legitimate government that must be respected.
US President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to impose additional sanctions targeting Russian oil, and secondary sanctions against buyers of Russian oil if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not make progress towards a general ceasefire, including an end to ground hostilities in the near future.
On the night of March 29-30, Russian forces struck a military hospital and civilian infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv.
On March 30, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced that it would create a space policy department.
Russian forces have recently advanced near Toretsk and Pokrovsk.