The Current State of Ukraine War Peace Negotiations
Efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine have been suspended. The most recent round of talks was held in Geneva in mid-February, but no date or location for a subsequent meeting has been agreed upon. The lack of progress is underscored by Ukrainian negotiators planning a trip to the United States this weekend without the participation of the Russian delegation.
Direct negotiations had been proceeding along two tracks: military and political. The key unresolved issues remain:
- The future of the Ukrainian-controlled territories in Donbas;
- The status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Russia insists on gaining control over all disputed territories in Donbas, while Ukraine refuses to unilaterally withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. During a February meeting in Abu Dhabi, Ukraine proposed deploying peacekeepers to the contested areas, but Russia rejected this option.
The American side insists that security guarantees must be approved simultaneously with a peace treaty, whereas Kyiv demands the opposite sequence. Russian officials believe that agreements were reached during the August 2025 meeting in Alaska between Putin and Trump, although the White House was left disappointed. Ukraine also proposed jointly operating the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with American involvement, but Russia agrees only to a partial transfer of energy.
Russia demanded the exclusion of NATO's eastward expansion and the withdrawal of alliance troops from territories of countries that joined after 1997. The negotiations are based on a plan prepared last autumn by Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff. One draft of this document contained 28 points, but after consultations, the plan was shortened to 19-20 points. Russia categorically refuses to have Europeans at the negotiating table, despite European diplomats attempting to initiate dialogue with Moscow at least twice in the last six months. In February, advisors to the French president personally visited Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov.
Perspectives on the Situation
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that
"what is happening gives him a very bad feeling"and expressed concern that
"America is now looking at the Middle East more than at Ukraine."Donald Trump shared his view of the situation, stating:
"Tell Zelenskyy to make a deal, because Putin is ready. It's much harder to make a deal with Zelenskyy."
Thus, despite numerous attempts to find a compromise, the peace process remains deadlocked, with the positions of the sides continuing to be diametrically opposed. The stalled talks reflect the immense complexity of ending Europe's largest conflict since World War II. The lack of progress underscores deep divisions on territorial and security issues, complicating any potential settlement. Furthermore, Kyiv is concerned that shifting U.S. attention to other global hotspots could affect future support for Ukraine.
As the negotiations remain stalled, insights from various stakeholders shed light on the complexities of the peace process. In particular, differing perspectives from key figures like Witkoff, Zelenskyy, and Trump highlight the challenges ahead and the potential pathways toward resolution.