Moscow wants more than Ukraine: ISW exposes Russia's conditions for ending war

In its report, ISW notes that Moscow is insisting not only on territorial concessions but also on the fulfillment of broader demands directed at Ukraine, NATO, and the West as a whole. In particular, Russia is seeking changes to Europe's security architecture and limits on NATO's influence—demands that extend well beyond the Ukrainian issue itself.

"Recent Kremlin statements are at odds with several of the positions that Trump presented as the basis for ending the war. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected European-led security guarantees for Ukraine. Kremlin officials have also called for any future peace agreement to address Russia’s demands that NATO cease expansion and roll back its borders," ISW said.

Analysts stress that any peace deal that fails to take these broader Kremlin demands into account will not satisfy Russia. As a result, such an arrangement is unlikely to lead to a lasting peace or to the normalization of relations between Russia and Europe or the United States.

Russia's preparing for war with NATO

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European countries have grown increasingly concerned about the possibility of further aggression from Moscow. States have stepped up preparations for potential threats, modernizing their armed forces and developing new defense scenarios.

French Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff General Thierry Burkhard said that, given the pace of Russia’s rearmament, it could become a real threat to Europe within five years.

Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has not ruled out the possibility that Russia could attack a NATO country as early as 2029, after restoring the military capabilities lost in the war against Ukraine.

Is Putin ready for a war with the West, and how would NATO respond? Read more in the RBC-Ukraine report.