Ukraine-Russia talks hit a wall: Why the parties need a mediator to break the deadlock
Photo: Ukraine-Russia talks will stall without a mediator (Getty Images)
A ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia currently looks unrealistic as the parties have diametrically opposed positions, political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko said in a commentary for the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
According to him, there are currently no effective and mutually acceptable proposals. Both the Ukrainian and Russian sides have voiced their maximum programs, but they are incompatible.
“Both proposals, ours more so, contain hints of compromise. For example, on sanctions, where Ukraine says that we are ready to recognize the gradual lifting of sanctions, but with our own reservations - Russian assets should be used to restore Ukraine,” the expert noted.
Also, Kyiv is ready to accept NATO's decision on Ukraine's membership prospects, meaning that it does not insist on immediate accession, but does not refuse it either.
According to Fesenko, the Russian side, on the other hand, is issuing ultimatums. The Kremlin is demanding the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the occupied territories or the adoption of the so-called package option, which actually means recognizing the annexation of four regions.
Fesenko believes that without the intermediary - probably the United States or Türkiye - it is impossible to move the negotiations forward.
“If there are negotiations, and they will be in the future, they will not take either the position of Ukraine or Russia. We need a mediator, the question is who it will be - the United States or Türkiye,” the expert believes.
He predicts that the dialogue will continue in the future, as Ukraine, Russia, and the United States are all interested in a certain format of negotiations, particularly given the prospects for relations with President Donald Trump. But there may be a pause now.
“A compromise has to be offered by a third party. The only question is when and how it will happen,” Fesenko summarized.
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia
On June 2, the second round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia took place. After the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the parties, among other things, discussed a meeting at the level of leaders.
After the talks in Istanbul on May 16, Russia announced that it would draw up a so-called memorandum outlining its vision of a ceasefire. Putin claimed that this memorandum was supposed to be a step toward a future peace treaty.
First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya emphasized that the Ukrainian side had not received a response to its document to date. He also confirmed that he had not seen the draft memorandum until June 2.
Read more about the second round of talks in RBC-Ukraine's article.
