CNN
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Therefore, Russia and Ukraine are more separate than ever, as Russia and Ukraine are unable to make a major breakthrough in their in-person meetings in Istanbul.
There was an agreement to trade more prisoners, but Moscow and Kiev remain deeply divided on costs and how to end the bitter Ukrainian war.
Russia has shown that it will pass uncompromising, uncompromising Ukrainian negotiators a memorandum recite the biggest hardline term essentially equivalent to Ukraine’s surrender.
The Kremlin expectations for compromise have always been low. But Moscow appears to have eliminated hints that it is ready to ease its demands.
The Russian memorandum once again calls on Ukraine to withdraw from four partially occupied regions that Russia annexed but not captured: concessions on territory that Kiev repeatedly refused.
Ukraine should accept strict military restrictions and not join military alliances, host foreign troops or greet nuclear weapons. It is Ukraine’s most hard-line demilitarization, not uncomfortable for Ukraine or most of Europe.
Other Russian demands include a recovery of full diplomatic and economic ties. This includes not reparations being requested on either side, and all Western sanctions relating to Russia will be lifted.
It is the Kremlin wish list, and although familiar, it speaks to the amount of Moscow continuing to imagine the future of Ukraine as a conquered nation of Russian slaves.
This uncompromising position arises despite two important factors that the Kremlin may have suspended.
First, Ukraine has developed its technical capabilities to clash deep within Russia despite the incredible disparities in territory and resources. Its powerful illustrations have recently been struck by a stunning drone targeting Russian strategic bombers at bases thousands of miles from Ukraine. Ukraine appears to have some cards after all, and uses them effectively.
Second, and perhaps even more dangerous to Moscow, the Kremlin’s latest hardliner demands come in, despite President Donald Trump’s growing frustration over his own Ukrainian peace efforts.
Trump has already bothered Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who said he was “absolutely crazy” after Russia’s massive strike last week.
But now Trump himself is under pressure as the cornerstone of his second term’s foreign policy, which quickly ends the Ukrainian war – clearly seemingly unstable.
There is a strong lever to pull if Trump chooses, such as increasing US military aid or imposing tough new sanctions, such as the overwhelming support of the US Senate. Senator Richard Blumental, a leading supporter of the cross-party Senate bill aimed at impose “disabled” new measures on Moscow, accusing Russia of “ocking up peace efforts” at Istanbul talks, and in a careful language post about X of “playing America for Trump and America.”
At this point it is unclear how the mercury US president will react or what he will do.
However, the result of the Ukrainian War, particularly the mediation of peace agreements to end it, is closely tied to the current White House administration.
The fact that Putin has once again dug into his heels and presented an uncompromising response to his call for peace may induce Trump to act.
