Presidents of France and Russia and the Federal Chancellor of Germany met for the first time in a trilateral format after the election of Emmanuel Macron the head of France. The main topic of discussion, of course, was Ukraine. The main conclusion is the necessity of an armistice in the Donbass, "Vitaly Portnikov writes in a column on" Crimea. Realities ".

If we recall that the main outcome of the first meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was also a truce - only in Syria, we can come to a simple conclusion: the main and almost the only thing that Vladimir Putin can sell to his interlocutors in the West is that He and his allies will not shoot. But this is a defective product.

On the truce in the east of Ukraine they say almost from the first day after the signing of the Minsk agreements. But even if it is theoretically possible to imagine that the shelling lines will cease on the line of delimitation, it will immediately become obvious how much this is unprofitable for the Kremlin. Because in this case the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine will practically cease. And in return, Vladimir Putin will have to restrain the occupied territories and pay wages to unnecessary militants from the "People's Republics". The whole point of the stay of Russian and pro-Russian troops in the Donbas - in the "creeping" destabilization of Ukraine, in restraining the pace of its European and Euro-Atlantic integration. And it turns out that Vladimir Putin does not need a truce.

In the ceasefire in Syria, not only Putin, but also his ally - President Bashar Assad. Assad does not support the majority of Syrians. The only evidence he uses to restore his control over the territory of the country is force. And not only our own, but also the Russian. And the Iranian. If one imagines that some region lives without constant shelling, it is easy to assume that the opposition will strengthen in this region, and it will be again proved that the Syrian regime is able to control only part of Damascus and the Alawite territory. Therefore, any truce in Syria - who would not agree on it - can only be a short-term.

Ukraine does not need a truce, but the world. It is very easy to achieve peace - it is necessary to withdraw foreign troops from the occupied territories. The next day Donetsk and Lugansk will not differ from Kramatorsk and Mariupol. But Vladimir Putin is not interested in such a world.

Syria does not need a truce, but the world. It is not so easy to achieve peace there as in Ukraine, but it is possible. The first condition is the immediate resignation of Bashar Assad from the post of president and the dismantling of his criminal regime.

After that, the prospect of formation of the coalition government of the country opens, which can be helped to establish control over the territory and the destruction of the group "Islamic State". If the democratic government of Iraq manages this, then why does not the democratic government of Syria cope?.

But Vladimir Putin is not interested in such a world. And in a peaceful planet including. He is interested exclusively in the armistice trade.

Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Join also the TSN group. Blogs on facebook and follow the updates of the section!.