If Ukraine gives up territory, Russia will push for further concessions – ISW
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russia’s threats during the Istanbul negotiations to seize more Ukrainian territory suggest the Kremlin may push for even tougher territorial demands, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
ISW recalled that during the May 16 talks in Istanbul, the Russian delegation threatened to capture Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Sumy regions. Analysts believe this tactic signals that if Ukraine agrees to the Kremlin’s initial terms, Russia will put forward even tougher territorial demands.
Despite repeated calls from the US, Ukraine, and the EU for a ceasefire to launch negotiations to end the war, Russia continues to reject such a course of action. The Kremlin likely sees ceasefire talks as an instrument of pressure to obtain additional concessions from Ukraine and the West.
"Russia must show its willingness to make concessions of its own in any future bilateral negotiations, especially as the Kremlin appears to be setting conditions to expand its list of demands amid the peace talks," ISW stated.
At the meeting, Putin’s representatives stated that Ukraine must hand over full control of the Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions to Russia before Moscow agrees to a ceasefire.
Analysts note that such territorial demands are typically the subject of final peace negotiations, not preconditions for a ceasefire. At the same time, Russia introduced additional demands and threatened to seize the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
This tactic suggests that during future talks to end the war, Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to make even tougher territorial demands if Ukraine agrees to the Kremlin's initial ceasefire conditions.
Ukraine-Russia negotiations
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place on Friday, May 16. Then the parties agreed to exchange prisoners - 1000 for 1000 people. The Russian delegation told their Ukrainian counterparts that Ukraine must concede territory, or else even more land would be occupied.
Yesterday, after US President Donald Trump spoke with Putin, he said that Russia was ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum regarding a possible future peace agreement.
President Zelenskyy responded that Trump and Putin discussed a memorandum that could be adopted in a bilateral format. This memorandum "could eventually lead to a roadmap toward ending the war and a peace agreement".
