The Kremlin maintains that it is not prepared for any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine unless they involve the complete fulfillment of Russian demands, even if Kyiv were to make territorial concessions. This information comes from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
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Analysts highlight the statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who emphasized that Russia would not cease hostilities even if Ukraine “acknowledged the current realities on the ground” and agreed to cede control over Donbas. Furthermore, he characterized the potential deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukrainian-controlled territory as a form of occupation.
According to ISW’s assessment, such declarations indicate that the Kremlin is effectively questioning Ukraine’s sovereignty and aiming to restrict its right to independently make security decisions.
The report also points out that Russia’s rhetoric regarding the so-called “root causes” of the war is being used to advance maximalist demands. These include Ukraine renouncing NATO membership, solidifying its neutral status, and adhering to policies of “demilitarization” and “denazification,” which essentially imply replacing the current government with a pro-Russian one.
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The analysts stress that Moscow is not demonstrating any inclination to abandon these demands, even in the context of potential negotiations involving the United States and Ukraine. In their opinion, this suggests the Kremlin’s intention to achieve its strategic objectives through military means rather than compromise.
“The Kremlin continues to publicly insist that it is not prepared to deviate from these demands, even in the case of trilateral negotiations with the United States and Ukraine,” the ISW report states.
It is noteworthy that Russia will not be participating in the talks between Ukraine and the US on March 21. “These will be bilateral contacts between Ukrainians and Americans,” Peskov said. He added that Moscow hopes for the resumption of the trilateral negotiation format in the near future, viewing the current pause in talks as “temporary.”
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He also declared that for an “energy truce,” Kyiv must unconditionally cease strikes on energy infrastructure and stop its “energy blackmail of other countries.”
Previously, Lavrov had also expressed the Kremlin’s reluctance to agree to security guarantees for Ukraine from Western nations and referenced the Istanbul negotiations, where Russia essentially demanded Kyiv’s capitulation.