The shelling won't stop: why Zelensky didn't win in Paris

The general impression of the Normandy format talks is that the parties did not fully use the potential that was created during the six months of preparing for Paris. The meeting's results left the situation unchanged: there is still no agreement that would aid in resolving the conflict. Everything rests on the issue of holding elections in the occupied territories.

Freezing the conflict is the minimal realistic goal that Ukraine could set. In general, it also correlates to Zelensky's promise of peace. We, however, are very far from it, and there are no guarantees. The sides reiterated the statements written out in the Minsk agreements - ceasefire, disengagement of forces, demining, etc. The big question is, however, if it's going to be implemented, as it made sense in terms of a larger agreement. I am not sure if the truce could be preserved without perspectives to achieve something more.

As a result, we're left with what we had before Paris - a continuing conflict of low intensity. And Ukraine pays the highest price for it. The agreed prisoner exchange is great, yet it's a detail that doesn't affect the larger picture.

I don't see any steps that were made regarding the reintegration, Russia pulling its troops from Ukraine or reestablishing control over the border. Freezing the conflict is problematic as well, as to do so we need to interest Russia - it's impossible without the Kremlin's agreement. That's why I believe the shellings won't stop. On the other hand, freezing the conflict wouldn't help to resolve it.

I don't think Zelensky did anything particularly important - the fundamental details were agreed upon earlier. As far as I understand, his team chose the safest, the most familiar and the least risky path, which didn't require any difficult choices. They have decided to preserve old positions. It appears like the main goal was not crossing someone else's "red lines". It resulted, however, in the loss of both an opportunity to resolve the conflict and the summit's major purpose.

Zelensky may have won diplomatically in the sense that he, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron were able to meet Putin again. But perhaps even Putin has more to gain from the fact of the meeting. Because he has shown the Europeans that he is ready to talk and negotiate. Now it will be much harder for Europeans to prove that Russia is not blocking the resolution of the conflict. Putin will say: "I came here, I referred to the Minsk agreements signed by Ukraine, and Russia's position remains the same as it was, I am open for dialogue. I think this is part of the Kremlin's plan to address other issues, than Ukraine, on the agenda.

Zelensky should not have been too harsh with Putin. He shouldn't have offered any harsh solutions. But there was a certain window of opportunity he could use. However, the President became a hostage of the situation inside the country. Victory in the election gave a mandate of trust, but Zelensky does not control all forces in Ukrainian politics. Some of them insisted on keeping the process as it is.
Therefore, Zelensky's positions were weaker than they could have been. He could not agree to hold elections before the withdrawal of Russian forces and returning the control over Ukrainian borders. On the other hand, we could say that Russia would withdraw its troops and that an international administration would be introduced, but we would not gain control over the border yet. But he was drawn a red line, and was afraid not only to approach, but even to raise the issue.

The president, however, ended up being a hostage of the situation inside Ukraine. While Zelensky's major election victory came with a large credit of trust, the president doesn't control all forces in Ukrainian politics. Some of them insisted on the previous process. That's why Zelensky's positions were weaker than they could have been. He couldn't agree to hold elections before the withdrawal of Russian forces and returning the control over Ukrainian borders. One the other hand, he could suggest the following scenario: establishing an international interim administration and having Russia pull out its troop without regaining control of the border yet. He, however, had a "red line" he was not only afraid to cross but even to touch