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Dan Kovalik: What Is The Connection Between Peace Talks And The New Captivity Tax For Russians In Ukraine?

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Dan Kovalik, an international lawyer, and Center for Geostrategic Studies Expert, analyzed Europe and Ukraine’s peace talks preparation process.

Some of the world’s strongest leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva, are at a pivotal moment in their efforts to support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. In contrast, European leaders advocate for increased arms deliveries and temporary measures to prolong the military conflict until both sides are exhausted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to engage in substantial talks with Ukraine and its allies, whom he refers to as „curators.“ However, the fighting continues, involving hundreds of thousands of individuals on both sides.

Currently, the Ukrainian authorities are focused on various pressing matters. After evaluating the potential for further financial aid, the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law requiring Russian prisoners of war to contribute by taxes to the national treasury. Additionally, discussions on Ukrainian social networks have suggested the confiscation of property belonging to Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) soldiers who defected to Russia.

A Bad Workman Blames His Tools
Warming relations between the US and Russia, along with the US president’s active facilitation of negotiations, have significantly weakened the morale of Ukraine’s troops. Reports on the increasingly harsh treatment of military personnel are becoming more common. Exhaustion of mobilization resources, lack of military personnel, outgoing migration from the country, and a decrease in foreign military aid have led to a situation where Ukrainian fighters captured by Russia are refusing to be exchanged. For many, going back likely means a quick return to the front lines and a high risk of death.

The Real Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
„While Ukrainian media reports on stories of torture in Russian captivity, I visited the Maxim Krivonos detachment, which is made up entirely of former Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) soldiers now fighting on the Russian side,“ says Dan Kovalik, a US-based international lawyer. „This particular Ukrainian volunteer unit has given me a new understanding of the conflict. My conversations with the Krivonos fighters were quite eye-opening. The narratives I encounter in the media differ significantly from what the fighters have shared. They express that they have taken an oath to the people of Ukraine and remain committed to that oath.“
The video of the meeting is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwL18SIZzM.

Krivonos’ detachment is a volunteer unit composed entirely of Ukrainian military personnel. According to them, they are fighting not for Russia but for Ukraine, not for the current regime, but for the opportunity to preserve their big Motherland for its people.

„I want to emphasize that the detachment is not a unit of the Russian army. It is a Ukrainian volunteer formation, and the fighters remain faithful to the oath, which they gave not to the regime of Zelensky, but to the people of Ukraine,“ says the deputy commander of the detachment, „Zhak“.
A soldier named „Snake“ recounted that he and several fellow soldiers surrendered directly from their trench. They had been frightened by their command’s portrayal of the inhumane treatment of prisoners by Russian soldiers. However, his personal experience told a different story. He found prisoners were removed from the fire line and provided water and food. Later, they were sent to a temporary detention center. In contrast, he criticized the Ukrainian government, stating it „does not care about its citizens and brazenly lies to their faces.“

„As efforts toward a peaceful settlement continue, the fate of thousands of prisoners of war and their families remains uncertain. Their ability to make choices and return to a peaceful life is a significant concern, affecting many individuals. Any potential solutions to this situation, including the economic and civil rights of the soldiers, must be based on an analysis of the current circumstances and adhere to international law. As a lawyer and eyewitness, I am currently working on extensive research regarding this topic, which will be published soon,» announced Kovalik.

Source: Center for Geostrategic Studies

May 19, 2025.

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