INSIDE RUSSIA
The “language of ultimatums” is unacceptable for Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
Russia is determined to find a long-term solution to the Ukraine conflict but will not allow itself to be spoken to in the “language of ultimatums,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Monday.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to restart direct negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions. Kiev, however, has insisted on establishing a 30-day ceasefire before any talks are held. Ukraine’s European backers have supported this demand. Berlin is threatening to impose additional sanctions on Moscow if it does not agree to a truce by the end of May 12.
Peskov responded to Germany’s threat by stressing that “the language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia.”
“You cannot speak to Russia in such a language,” the spokesman emphasized, noting that similar ultimatums were previously made in Kiev by the so-called “coalition of the willing,” which includes the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and Poland.
Peskov emphasized that Moscow is committed to searching for ways to achieve a long-term peace settlement that includes resuming direct talks with Kiev in Istanbul without any preconditions.
He noted that this approach is aimed at “finding a genuine diplomatic resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, addressing the root causes of the conflict, and achieving a lasting peace.”
As for the proposed ceasefire, Peskov has stated that while Moscow is open to the idea of a truce “in general,” there are a number of crucial concerns that must first be addressed, including guarantees that the pause would not be used by Ukraine to regroup its battered forces and continue its mobilization campaign.
Kremlin issues update on proposed Ukraine peace talks
Moscow is serious about finding a lasting solution to the conflict, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said
Russia is ready to resume direct peace talks with Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reiterated, stressing Moscow’s “serious” commitment to reaching a lasting settlement of the conflict.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Ukraine the opportunity to restart direct negotiations without any preconditions in Istanbul, Türkiye, which Kiev unilaterally walked away from in 2022.
However, Ukraine, backed by several European nations, has demanded that Russia agree to a ceasefire first as a precondition for talks. After US President Donald Trump urged Kiev to “immediately” agree to the proposal for direct unconditional talks, Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky said he would be waiting for Putin in Türkiye on Thursday “personally.” Nevertheless, he maintained that Kiev awaits “a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow [Monday], to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy.”
Asked about the progress in the Ukraine peace process, Peskov told reporters on Monday that Moscow remains committed to “resuming direct talks in Istanbul without any preconditions.”
Moscow’s approach is aimed at “finding a genuine diplomatic resolution to the Ukrainian crisis, addressing the root causes of the conflict, and achieving a lasting peace,” Peskov said. He added that Putin’s proposal had received support from “leaders of many countries,” including those in several former Soviet republics and BRICS members.
The spokesman also noted that Trump had “called on the Ukrainian side to urgently, and without any conditions, take part in the meeting we proposed,” while pointing to Türkiye’s readiness to facilitate the talks. “In general, we are focused on a serious effort to find a path toward a long-term peaceful resolution.”
Moscow has said it is open to a ceasefire “in general,” but has flagged several crucial concerns. Russian officials argue that any pause in fighting would allow Ukraine to regroup its battered forces and continue its mobilization campaign. Moscow has also demanded that all Western arms deliveries to Ukraine be halted during any ceasefire period.
Moscow Vows Response to Closure of Russian Consulate in Krakow
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Moscow will give an “adequate” response to the closure of the Russian Consulate in Poland’s Krakow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik on Monday.
“An adequate response to these inadequate steps will come soon,” Zakharova said.
Polish authorities continue to deliberately destroy relations with Moscow and act against the interests of citizens, the spokeswoman added.
Earlier in the day, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that Poland had decided to close the Russian Consulate General in Krakow.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Russian ambassador to Poland says outlook for bilateral relations not good
Sergey Andreyev that while Russia has kept its door open for Polish citizens who wish to visit Kaliningrad, Warsaw is making maintaining normal ties impossible
MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Relations between Moscow and Warsaw seem to be going downhill, with little hope of returning to normal as they stand now, Russian Ambassador to Poland Sergey Andreyev said.
“Yes, [the forecast] looks grim at this point. Right now, there is no sign of them getting back on track. It looks like everyone is chasing immediate political interests instead of thinking long-term,” he said in an interview with the Soloviov Live television channel when asked about the future of relations between the two countries.
Poland’s relations with Russia’s westernmost Kaliningrad Region are non-existent right now as well, he noted. “Everything is frozen, terminated,” he added.
He emphasized that while Russia has kept its door open for Polish citizens who wish to visit Kaliningrad, Warsaw is making maintaining normal ties impossible.
On May 12, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski announced his decision to shut down Russia’s consulate general in Krakow, citing the results of a domestic investigation indicating Russia’s alleged involvement in a major fire at a shopping mall on Marywilska Street in Warsaw’s northern part in May 2024. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned about Moscow’s proportional response to Warsaw’s steps.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Russian Forces Liberate Kotlyarovka Settlement in DPR – MoD
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian armed forces have taken control of the settlement of of Kotlyarovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
“The settlement of Kotlyarovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic has been liberated by decisive actions of the units of Battlegroup Tsentr,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia’s Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated more than 440 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
“The enemy’s losses amounted to over 440 servicepeople, three combat armored vehicles, 14 cars and two artillery pieces,” the ministry said in a statement.
Russia’s Battlegroup Zapad has eliminated over 230 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Russia’s Battlegroup Yug has eliminated over 200 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the ministry said.
INSIGHTS
Gaddafi warned them. Now the EU is living out his grim prophecy
Europe is trying to solve migration problems of their own making by shifting the burden to Africa
The migration crisis on Europe’s southern borders has been brewing for decades. Today, it has reached a breaking point. In a bid to halt the flow of refugees, the EU is increasingly shifting responsibility to third countries – primarily African states that often face instability themselves.
Libya is the most striking example of what these policies have led to. Today, around 4 million African migrants live there without legal status – more than half of the country’s official population of 7.5 million. Left in chaos after Western intervention, Libya has become a springboard for millions seeking to reach the shores of Europe.
And it’s not just Libya – in recent years, the European Union has been forging a web of agreements with African and Middle Eastern countries, aiming to keep migrants farther from its borders through a combination of financial incentives and political pressure.
“Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European, and even black”
The critical situation in Libya is a direct consequence of Europe’s longstanding attempts to contain migration. According to the European Commission, as of 2023, the EU’s total population was 448.8 million, with 27.3 million non-EU citizens and 42.4 million people born outside the bloc.
Despite a recent decline in illegal border crossings, the problem remains acute. Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, reported that in January–February 2025, the number of illegal crossings dropped by 25%, to around 25,000. The main routes now run through West Africa and the Central Mediterranean, with migrants predominantly hailing from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mali, and other countries.
The threat of uncontrolled migration has loomed over Europe for years. It’s worth recalling the warnings of the late Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who cautioned during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 2010:
“Tomorrow Europe might no longer be European, and even black, as there are millions who want to come in.”
In 2011, just months before his death, Gaddafi told Tony Blair that his removal would plunge Libya into chaos, empower terrorist groups, and trigger new waves of migration to Europe.
These predictions came true: after the civil war and NATO’s intervention, Libya fell into anarchy and became one of the main transit hubs for refugees.
Libya’s reality: Camps, slavery and death at sea
According to Libya’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, over 4 million foreigners are currently in Libya, most of them undocumented. Many are held in detention centers, which, amid lawlessness, rampant drug trafficking and armed clashes, have become little more than prisons.
International organizations have documented slave markets and abductions of migrants for forced labor or ransom. Those who fail to reach Europe face two options: deportation or death in the Mediterranean.
UNICEF reports that more than 2,200 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2024, including about 1,700 along the central route. Children and teenagers accounted for roughly one-fifth of all casualties.
At a March 17 meeting at the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, Minister Emad Al-Trabelsi stated that Libya could not cope alone, given its internal security and economic problems. In the presence of EU diplomats, African Union officials and representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he called on Western countries to help strengthen Libya’s southern borders, supply modern equipment for controlling migration, and provide broader support to the country.
The Mattei Plan and migrant offshoring: Europe’s new reality
Italy, one of the first destinations for many migrants, is actively seeking to change the situation. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed the Mattei Plan – a multibillion-euro initiative to invest in energy, agriculture, water supply, healthcare and education in African countries.
Named after Eni founder Enrico Mattei, the plan is based on a simple idea: fostering economic development in Africa to reduce incentives for migration.
At the same time, Italy is not shying away from another tool – “offshoring” migrants, meaning relocating them to third countries. Australia pioneered this model, sending asylum seekers to the island of Nauru since 2012. European countries are now adopting similar methods.
In Europe, Albania may become a processing hub for migrants, thanks in part to Italian efforts. Under Meloni’s ambitious plan, two migrant screening centers are to be opened in Albania, a non-EU member state, but operated under Rome’s authority. The goal is to keep asylum seekers out of both Italy and the EU.
Based on the November 2023 migration cooperation protocol signed by the Italian and Albanian governments, two centers have already been established in Shengjin and Gjader. There, migrants await decisions on their asylum status or possible deportation. The agreement allows for up to 36,000 migrants to be relocated to Albania annually.
So far, however, all attempts to transfer people there have been overturned in court. Twice – in October and November 2024 – Italy was ordered to bring back groups of refugees from Egypt and Bangladesh, as the courts found that returning them to their countries of origin would endanger their lives. This determination is essential to granting asylum status, which must be decided on Italian soil.
The UK and the failure of the Rwanda plan
The UK’s plan to deport migrants to Rwanda is an even clearer example of offshoring in action. Launched by Boris Johnson in 2022, the scheme aimed to forcibly deport those who arrived illegally in the UK.
In April 2024, the first migrant was flown to Rwanda under a “voluntary scheme” that offered up to £3,000 to participants. However, on his first day in office, new Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared the plan “dead and buried,” citing its inefficiency: over several years, it affected less than 1% of illegal migrants.
Meanwhile, the number of people crossing the English Channel continues to rise: over 5,000 since the beginning of 2025 and more than 120,000 since 2018.
Europe’s deals with Tunisia, Mauritania, and Egypt
The EU has signed a number of agreements with African countries: with Tunisia in July 2023 (€1.1 billion), with Mauritania in March 2024 (€210 million), and with Egypt ten days later (up to €5 billion by 2027). While officially focused on macroeconomic stability, green energy, and trade, their underlying aim is to curb irregular migration.
In exchange for helping Europe control its borders, African countries may demand political concessions – such as an end to the media portrayal of Tunisian President Kais Saied and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as human-rights-violating dictators, and reduced support for opposition figures living in Europe.
Mauritania and the Atlantic route: The new frontier
As anti-migrant policies in Libya tighten, EU asylum seekers have begun to look for new routes. According to Frontex, Mauritania has emerged as a key transit hub for migrants heading to Europe. This helps explain the 18% increase in Atlantic route migration between West Africa and the Canary Islands in 2024.
Mauritania is also seeking to benefit more from its cooperation with Europe. In September 2024, its government demanded that the EU fulfill provisions of the March migration declaration, including easing visa procedures for Mauritanians and waiving visas for diplomats.
Mauritanian officials emphasized that only after these conditions are met will the country commit to fully cooperating in the fight against illegal migration. The agreement must be mutually beneficial: while the EU hopes Mauritania will contain the Atlantic migration flow – particularly to Spain – Mauritania is looking for investments, job creation, and increased visa access to the EU.
Libya’s example, however, suggests that despite the potential benefits, countries that agree to host migrants end up inheriting problems that only exacerbate their already fragile economic and security situations. North African states become hostages to the arrangement – taking on responsibility for housing, registering, and managing people the EU no longer wishes to deal with. In doing so, they risk becoming new hotspots for cross-border crime, human trafficking, and human rights abuses.
