UN dismisses Russia’s proposal for temporary administration in Ukraine

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal for temporary governance in Ukraine, reaffirming that Ukraine already has a legitimate government in power.

Lacroix made these comments in an interview with El País, per Caliber.Az.

When asked about the proposal for temporary governance, Lacroix said, "The answer is very simple: Ukraine already has a legitimate government." His statement came in response to Putin’s suggestion that the UN should oversee a temporary administration in Ukraine to facilitate elections and the establishment of a legitimate government.

Lacroix’s remarks follow a lack of official communication from Russia regarding the proposal. The UN had earlier confirmed that it had not received any formal request from Moscow about implementing this idea.

This proposal by Putin, which he presented during a visit to the Murmansk region on March 27, suggests that temporary international governance, under the auspices of the UN, could help facilitate elections and create a government that enjoys public trust. Putin emphasized that the current Ukrainian leadership had lost its legitimacy and that Russia could not sign a peace agreement with the current Ukrainian authorities.

Putin further elaborated that the process would involve the participation of the United States, European countries, and Russia’s foreign partners in establishing the temporary governance.

Meanwhile, the idea of temporary governance in Ukraine also drew strong reactions from the United States. President Donald Trump voiced his stance over Putin’s comments, stating that they had "very much angered" him. Trump also warned that the US would impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow did not conclude a peace agreement with Ukraine soon.

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce added that the Trump administration is focused on achieving a complete ceasefire in Ukraine and facilitating negotiations between both parties for a lasting peace settlement.

She clarified that while Russia’s proposal for temporary governance had been made, it was not approved by President Trump. “Ukraine is a constitutional democracy, and its governance is determined by the Constitution and the Ukrainian people,” Bruce stressed.

By Tamilla Hasanova