Why Russia-Ukraine peace talks have little chance of success: Sources explain
Illustrative photo: Peace talks to end the war are unlikely to take place this year (Getty Images)
Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia are unlikely to succeed this year. None of the current proposals satisfy both sides, according to an RBC-Ukraine report.
Just a few months ago, the situation looked different. Ukraine has significantly stepped up strikes deep inside Russia. With Russian forces failing to make big gains on the front lines and discontent growing inside Russia, there was hope that Vladimir Putin might sit down to negotiate.
Instead, Ukraine's intense strikes had the opposite effect on the Kremlin: Russia became even more determined to reach its goals at any cost. Moscow is now preparing another brutal winter for Ukrainians, hoping to break the home front.
"Both sides lack an exit strategy from the war," states a source in the Ukrainian government in conversation with RBC-Ukraine.
Why the concessions strategy failed
It took nearly a year to convince Washington that Ukraine's voluntary withdrawal from the entire Donbas was not an acceptable option. Both President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian public strongly agree on this.
US partners genuinely didn't get why Kyiv was being so firm:
"The Americans asked us many times: well, why are you so stuck on this little piece of Donbas that you can't even find on a map?.. Give it up — and you'll have peace," a Ukrainian negotiator said.
The US side was especially puzzled by the fight for a region with no significant oil or gas reserves.
Another scenario that failed to materialize was a "Donnyland" — a free economic zone or demilitarized area in the Donbas. Ukraine was open to discussing it, but Moscow refused.
Searching for new formats and the upcoming US visit
Ukrainian diplomats are now looking for new options, as previous plans failed to work.
"We are now searching for new ideas, since the old ones don't work," one Ukrainian negotiator tells RBC-Ukraine.
Diplomats have some hopes for the upcoming visit of Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv in August. After Kyiv, they plan to head to Moscow.
"When they come to us, we'll sit down and put something together out of various options," a Ukrainian source explained.
As a reminder, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow could get a fresh push very soon, with new diplomatic efforts currently being prepared.
