Russia wants full control of four southern and east regions, as well as the Crimea Peninsula; Ukraine asks Europeans and Americans weapons and ‘security guarantees’, as well as insisting on joining NATO
e They gather in Alaska this Friday (15) in their first summit since the return of the American tycoon to power. There are high expectations for this meeting, which should focus mainly on the war in . More than three and a half years after the beginning of the Russian invasion, the perspective of an end to hostilities still seems distant, given the incompatibility of the demands of Moscow and Kiev. Follow what is known about the positions of both parties:
Moscow calls for territories and the renunciation of Ukraine to NATO
With a front -line power position where their troops have accelerated their advances in recent months in critical sectors, Russia maintains maximalist demands to end its invasion. Vladimir Putin insists that the solution considers the “deep causes” of conflict, such as Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, Moscow’s military alliance considers an existential threat on its borders. Russia also asks Ukraine to give in four southern and east regions that partially control (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizehzia and Kherson), as well as the Crimea Peninsula, attached in 2014.
Moscow also wants the suspension of international sanctions it faces and which Ukraine becomes a neutral and demilitarized state, thus renouncing western weapons and military mobilization. Other Russian demands, presented to Ukrainians in their conversations in Istanbul between May and July, include the end of martial law and the organization of presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine within 100 days. Finally, Russia requires guarantees to the rights of Russian citizens in Ukraine, especially regarding the recognition of the Russian language, and that nationalist groups are excluded from army and power, which qualifies as “disinalization.”
KIEV requests weapons and security guarantees
For Ukraine, Russian demands are unacceptable. The Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky denounced them as “ultimatos.” In Ukraine, the theme of territorial concessions causes great controversy, given the suffering of the population and the intense material damage suffered since 2014, with the aim of maintaining its borders, established at the end of the USSR in 1991. Kiev also fears that a reduction in its army or the end of the supply of western weapons leave defenseless if Russia declives it again after reaching peace. Okraine officially requires complete withdrawal of Russian troops, which currently control approximately 20% of its territory. Press, along with its allies, for an unconditional ceasefire of 30 days, to which Moscow refuses.
It also urges Europeans and Americans to offer solid “safety guarantees” to dissuade Russia and insist on joining NATA, although Washington has discarded this possibility. Alternatively, Ukraine considers with Europeans the creation of a military contingent in the country, with the support of NATO if peace is achieved. This possibility was also firmly rejected by Moscow.
Europeans and Americans
To try to achieve an agreement, Russians and Ukrainians recently held three direct negotiation sessions in Istanbul, but the result was only prisoners and soldiers’ bodies. During the last of these meetings, in July, the delegations found the “distance” between their positions. Europeans, who have intensified their contacts with Zelensky in recent weeks, push Trump and Putin not reach a detrimental agreement to Ukraine. Despite their attempts to influence, European leaders have remained on the sidelines of Istanbul negotiations and the resumption of contacts between Moscow and Washington since January. They will also be absent from the summit in Alaska.
Donald Trump wants to end the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible, which he attributed to his democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. The US President inaccurately foresaw “exchanges of territories,” and remained vague about his expectations regarding Putin. The Russian leader has long been to discuss with Washington, besides Ukraine, all security architecture in Europe.
*With information from AFP
