Moscow has blocked three points of the peace agreement: what does not suit Putin
3 December 11:57
Russia has not agreed to any concessions in the three main provisions of the proposed peace plan to end the war against Ukraine. This was reported by NBC News, citing a Russian official who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
Moscow insists on “three pillars”
Putin has never hidden his tough demands.
He has sought to capture Ukraine’s entire eastern industrial region of Donbas, including the disputed Donetsk region and Russian-controlled Luhansk. He has also called for the “demilitarization” of Ukraine, which would effectively render it defenseless, and for the recognition of a final peaceful settlement within the framework of international law.
According to sources, the Kremlin refused to consider compromises on these demands:
- Full control over the entire Donbas.
- Limiting the size of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- International recognition of the occupied territories by the US and EU.
These points were probably significantly changed compared to the original 28-point plan discussed during the talks in Geneva and Washington.
Despite Moscow’s hardline stance, sources say the Russian side may be more flexible on other provisions, such as the hundreds of billions of Russian assets frozen in Europe at the start of the war. Ukraine and its European allies have called for these funds to be used to support Ukraine’s devastated economy.
No specific details of the plan, which was reduced to 20 points during Sunday’s talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Florida, were disclosed.
Putin may be ready to compromise
Abbas Gallamov, a Russian political analyst and former speechwriter for Putin, told NBC News that he believes Putin may be ready to compromise.
“The most important thing you need to understand is that he can’t afford to fall out with Trump. It would be quite suicidal,” Gallamov said.
And while the war has not devastated the Russian economy, in the long run Putin realizes that Trump’s increased sanctions will make economic recovery very difficult, if not impossible, he said.
“If Trump really puts pressure on him, Putin will agree to stop the fighting – perhaps with the expectation that he will build up his forces, quickly organize some kind of provocation in the spring to blame it on the Ukrainians and strike again,” Gallamov said.
Much depends on what the Americans demand, Gallamov said, adding that Putin might be willing to agree to a ceasefire for Christmas and New Year’s.
But Putin is unlikely to be able to truly end the war without strong pressure from the United States, he said.
No compromise reached
The Kremlin has not officially released details of Putin’s five-hour meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff and Jared Kushner. However, Russian aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the parties did not find a common solution.
The main stumbling block is Donetsk region
In an interview with Fox News, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio named the key sticking point in the negotiations – the approximately 20% of Donetsk region that remains under Ukrainian control.
According to him, the parties are trying to determine what conditions Ukraine can accept in order to receive security guarantees, prevent a second invasion and ensure economic development.
“Now they are literally fighting for a territory of 30-50 kilometers, 20% of the remaining Donetsk region. We have tried to figure out and I think we have made some progress in this, what Ukrainians can live with, what will give them security guarantees, what will ensure that they will never be invaded again in the future, and what will allow them not only to rebuild their economy, but also to prosper as a country, to be a country whose economy is growing. Theoretically, if you do the right things, in 10 years, Ukraine’s GDP could exceed Russia’s GDP,” Rubio said.
US position: unlimited support for Kyiv is impossible
The U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that Donald Trump’s administration does not see endless funding for Ukraine as a realistic option.
The United States has been trying to bring Kyiv and Moscow to the same negotiating table for 10 months. But, according to Rubio, only Putin can end the war.
No meeting between Putin and Trump is planned
Despite the special attention paid to the peace talks, the visit of Vitkoff and Kushner to the Kremlin did not result in a breakthrough.
Ushakov said that the parties remain far from a compromise, and a meeting between Putin and Trump is not currently on the schedule.
