Talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine have reached a stalemate. Moscow demands territorial concessions, while Kyiv refuses to hand over the rest of Donbas and demands security guarantees.
Modern.az reports that this was stated in an analysis by CNN.
According to the information, the peace process is currently continuing in two directions. Ukraine and its European allies are working on a possible agreement that US President Donald Trump could accept. Russia, on the other hand, is trying to strengthen relations by discussing opportunities for economic cooperation with Washington. Against this background, Moscow continues its attacks on the front.
US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner continue contacts with representatives of both sides.
Moscow's main demand is Donbas
One of the main obstacles to peace is the Kremlin's territorial demands. Russian President Vladimir Putin wants Ukraine to hand over the remaining part of Donbas under Kyiv's control to Russia without further fighting.
Moscow also demands the demilitarization of Ukraine, its refusal to join NATO, and a change of power in Kyiv. Experts emphasize that these demands are difficult or virtually impossible to implement under the current war conditions.
Ukraine, on the other hand, does not consider territorial concessions an acceptable path to peace. According to Kyiv's position, the remaining part of Donetsk region under control is of strategic importance for the country's defense.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also drew attention to the importance of these territories. In an interview with "Breitbart News", he stated that Russia controls approximately 89 percent of Donetsk region, while the remaining 11 percent is in Ukrainian hands.
According to Rubio, Ukrainian military strategists consider the remaining territories under their control as the last line of defense. It is stated that retreating from this position could lead to serious consequences for Kyiv's defense.
How does Trump's policy affect negotiations?
In recent weeks, a number of decisions by the US administration could lead to outcomes that align with Moscow's interests. These include steps related to Russian diesel fuel, a temporary halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, and issues related to "Starlink" satellite communications and intelligence sharing.
In addition, there have been delays in the supply of US-made anti-missile systems to Ukraine, and Trump has reportedly called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to step down.
Observations show that Washington's financial support to Ukraine has significantly decreased in recent months. The burden of financing military aid is increasingly falling on European countries.
Nevertheless, relations between the US and Ukraine have not been completely severed. After meetings in Norway, Zelensky stated that he expects a positive response from the US regarding "Patriot" air defense systems and "Starlink" communications. He also thanked Washington for resuming intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, Witkoff has visited Russia. It is not yet known what proposals he will present at the meeting with Putin.
Internal political calculations in the US also play a role
According to experts, internal political calculations ahead of the midterm elections in the US may also play a role in Trump's actions regarding Russia and Ukraine.
Some politicians in the US are trying to distance themselves from Trump's Russia policy. At the same time, it is possible that the practical results of some adopted decisions will be limited.
For example, it is doubtful that agreements on Russian diesel fuel will lower gasoline prices in the US in the short term. European restrictive measures, on the other hand, could reduce the financial advantages Russia could gain in this area.
The Ukrainian side is also trying to change its approach in its relations with Washington. Kyiv no longer relies as much on maintaining support by making political concessions to the US President and is preparing for a scenario where it may have to act more independently.
Nevertheless, dialogue between the parties continues. On October 20, the issue of ending the war was discussed between Zelensky and US representatives in Oslo. The meeting also considered security guarantees for Ukraine and the prospect of a trilateral meeting involving Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Volodymyr Zelensky.
