Russia Says Talks Unlikely Without Ukraine Leaving Donbas
Russia has signaled that further trilateral negotiations with Ukraine and the US are unlikely unless Kyiv withdraws its forces from parts of the Donbas region under its control. According to The Moscow Times, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said the continuation of talks in a US‑Ukraine‑Russia format would be unadvisable under current conditions.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Everyone understands, in particular, I would say, and Ukrainian negotiators, that now Kyiv needs to take only one serious step, after which, firstly, hostilities will be suspended, and secondly, prospects will open up for a serious discussion of the prospects for a further long-term settlement,” Ushakov said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had previously made similar remarks, indicating that Moscow expects Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas as a precondition for further negotiations. Ushakov also said that no further contacts had taken place since February, in the trilateral format following several rounds of meetings in Geneva, adding that Washington appears focused on other priorities. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said the statements demonstrate Russia’s unwillingness to end the war, according to Ukrinform. “Russia has effectively confirmed it does not plan to end the war, as Ukraine refuses to leave its own land,” Kovalenko said on Telegram, adding that Moscow appears to be seeking concessions to enable further military operations.
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According to him, Russia confirmed that “they did not need any peace, only an attempt to get a springboard for a further offensive without a fight,” while Ukraine “clearly stated that it would not leave its own land.” Kyiv has repeatedly ruled out territorial concessions, maintaining that any settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and internationally recognized borders. The remarks come as diplomatic contacts continue, with Ukraine’s National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov traveling to the US on Thursday for talks. President Volodymyr Zelensky said discussions with US officials are ongoing, focusing on humanitarian issues, diplomatic efforts with Russia, and security arrangements to strengthen Ukraine’s defense.
