Threats, pressures, ultimatums Although he left, Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained Moscow’s uncompromising demands in the war in Ukraine, and raised fears that he could use a planned summit with Alaska’s US President Donald Trump to force Kiyif to accept unfavourable deals.
The maximalist demands reflect Putin’s determination to reach the goal he set when he launched. A full-scale invasion of Ukraine February 24, 2022.
Putin is watching possible meetings Trump not only strengthens the interests of Russia’s territory, but also as an opportunity to negotiate a wide range of deals that would prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and hosting western troops, allowing Moscow to gradually bring the country back into orbit.
Kremlin leaders believe they have time as a swarm of Russian missiles and drones attack Ukrainian cities while exhausted Ukrainian forces struggle to block Russian progress beyond the Russian front.
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky has also been stubborn in his position, reaffirming that he agreed to Trump’s proposed ceasefire, abandoned his quest for NATO membership and refused to approve the annexation of the Russian region.
Let’s take a look at the vision of Russia and Ukraine for peace agreements and how the Putin Trump Summit evolves.
Russia’s position
In a memorandum announced at Talks in Istanbul in June, Russia offered Ukraine two options to establish a 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine demanded that the troops be withdrawn from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zapolizia and Harson. Moscow was illegally annexed in September 2022, but was completely unseen.
As an alternative condition for the ceasefire, Russia has put forward a “package proposal” to halt Ukraine’s mobilization efforts, freeze rescue of Western weapons, and ban third-country forces in the soil. Moscow also proposed that Ukraine end martial law and hold elections, and the country was then able to sign a comprehensive peace treaty.
With an armistice, Moscow wants a contract that includes an “international legal recognition” of its annexation Crimea Peninsula in Ukraine Four regions, 2014 and 2022.
Russia says the peace treaty should declare Ukraine a neutral position between Russia and the West, abandon its bid to participate in NATO, limit the size of its military, and allow Russian to be recognized as an official language equivalent to conditions that reflect Ukraine’s early goals.
Ukraine also bans “glory and propaganda of Nazism and neo-Nazism” and calls for the removal of nationalist groups. Since the start of the war, Putin has falsely argued that neo-Nazi groups are shaping Ukrainian politics under Jewish Zelensky. They were violently fired by Kyiv and its Western allies.
In Russia’s view, a comprehensive peace treaty requires the two countries to lift all sanctions and restrictions and waive any claims for reestablishing wartime damages, trade and communication resumes, and diplomatic relations.
Asked on Thursday if Moscow would show willingness to compromise to enable a meeting with Trump, Putin’s foreign advisor Yuri Ushakov responded that Russia’s position had not changed.
Ukraine’s position
The memorandum presented by Ukraine to Moscow in Istanbul emphasized the need for a complete and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to set the stage for peace negotiations.
It reaffirmed Ukraine’s consistent rejection of Russia’s demands for neutral status as an attack on Ukrainian sovereignty, declaring its freedom to choose its alliance, adding that its NATO membership will depend on consensus with the alliance.
It emphasized that Kiev rejected restrictions on the size of the army and other parameters, suppressing the presence of foreign troops on its soil.
The Ukrainian memorandum also opposed recognition of Russia’s territorial interests, describing the current line of contact as a starting point for negotiations.
The document highlighted the need for international security assurances to ensure the implementation of peace agreements and prevent further attacks.
Kiev’s peace proposal also called for the return of a full prisoner exchange with all deported and illegally evacuated children.
It kept the door open for the gradual lifting of some sanctions against Russia, provided it had adhered to the agreement.
Trump’s position
Trump often deserved praise for Putin and reflected his controversy over the war. He had a tough conflict with Zelenskyy In an oval office February 28th, but later warmed his tone. Putin resisted the ceasefire He continued bombing in the airTrump has shown fury with the Kremlin leaders and threatened Moscow with new sanctions.
Trump expressed his disappointment in Putin, but his agreement to meet him without Zelensky at the table raises concerns for Ukraine and its European allies, fearing that Russians will put Trump by his side and concessions to Ukraine to strong Ukraine.
Trump said he has not said there will be a “territorial exchange” between Russia and Ukraine as part of a peace deal he will discuss with Putin when he meets Friday.
Putin repeatedly warned that Ukraine would face harsher conditions for peace if Russian forces were not accepted by Moscow to build what was described as “buffer zones” in other regions. Some observers suggested that Russia could exchange these recent profits with the four territories annexed by Moscow, still under Ukraine’s control.
“It’s a potential situation that gives Putin a tremendous amount of room as long as he can use that leverage to force Ukrainians to deals they may not like and effectively put Europeans aside,” said Sam Green of King’s College London. “The question is, does Trump sign up for it and he actually has leverage to embrace it with Ukrainians and Europeans?”
Putin could accept a temporary ceasefire to win Trump’s sympathy for achieving a broader goal, Green said.
“He was able to accept a ceasefire, and as long as it keeps him in control, there’s no real deterrence against new aggression somewhere there,” he said. “He understands that the only route to get there is going to run via Trump.”
A possible indication he believes that a ceasefire or peace agreement could become closer. President Putin has been called the leader of China, India, South Africa and several former Soviet countries, and has made clear efforts to inform these allies of future agreements.
Tatiana Stanovaya of Carnegie Russia and the Eurasian Center claimed that Putin would not move his goals.
“But these conditions are words and correspond to the same demand. Ukraine ceases resistance, the West ceases the supply of weapons, and Kiev accepts the Russian terms. This is effectively a surrender,” she posted on X. Russia wants Kiev to surrender. ”
She predicted that Putin might agree to meet Zelensky, but the Kremlin leader said “it’s difficult to imagine only if there is a pre-expressed agenda and a pre-determined outcome.”
“The scenario is probably that this peace effort will fail again,” she said. “This will have negative consequences for Ukraine, but at least in the way he hopes, he will not deliver Ukraine to Putin on the plate. The conflict appears to be likely to continue for a foreseeable future, alternating periods of open war and boiling.
