Putin has clear deadline before he considers peace talks — FT
Russian President Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Russia shows no willingness to engage in meaningful peace negotiations on Ukraine and instead seeks to drag out the process, according to the Financial Times.
Kremlin's bet on Washington
The outlet noted that Russian negotiators told the US side that, for the peace process to move forward, Washington must pressure Kyiv into making major concessions.
One FT source in Moscow who participated in behind-the-scenes talks on ending the war described the Kremlin's thinking bluntly.
According to him, the Russians largely believe that the Americans will "give Ukraine" to them.
He added that the Russian side has shown no willingness to make concessions of its own and has made no hint of any. They keep repeating the same objectives, and their negotiating position essentially means there is no basis for negotiations, the source noted.
When meaningful talks could start
Senior Ukrainian officials involved in the peace talks told the outlet that the US-mediated trilateral negotiation process is unlikely to resume before the end of the summer.
FT's Moscow source said that the Kremlin's continued focus on Putin's maximalist objectives means Russia is unlikely to take part in any meaningful negotiations until at least February 2027.
Putin's stance
The media notes that Putin has shown no signs that Ukraine's recent military campaigns will compel him to come to the negotiating table.
On the contrary, he has doubled down, insisting that Russia is winning the war and that its military objectives remain achievable.
Last week, reports emerged that Putin told Russian propagandist Pavel Zarubin he would not negotiate on Kyiv's terms, despite the increasing frequency of Ukrainian strikes on strategic targets deep inside Russian territory.
