Putin not interested in any compromises in talks to end the war, – ISW

Putin is not interested in any compromises in the talks to end the war, – ISW Irina Martsiyash

Following conversations between US leader Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as statements from Russia, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War concluded that “Putin is not interested in any compromises during future peace talks.”

This was reported by Channel 24 with reference to ISW.

Putin Not Interested in Compromise

US President Donald Trump held bilateral telephone conversations with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky on February 12.

He said he discussed the war in Ukraine with Putin and that they agreed that their administrations would begin talks “immediately.”

The Kremlin's official statement on the conversation claimed that Putin noted the need to “address the root causes” of the war and that Putin “agreed with Trump” that “a long-term settlement can be achieved through peaceful negotiations.”

Russian officials have clearly identified the “root causes” of the war as NATO’s alleged violation of commitments not to advance eastward in areas near Russia’s border, demonstrating that the Kremlin remains committed to imposing its will and security interests on the United States and Europe and is uninterested in compromising on that demand, the report says.

It also says Trump confirmed his phone call with Zelensky and said they discussed the war and Zelensky’s upcoming meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference on February 14.

Zelensky said he and Trump discussed opportunities for peace, willingness to work together, and Ukraine’s technological capabilities, including drones. The Ukrainian president said Trump shared details of his call with Putin, and that he and Trump agreed to plan future bilateral meetings.

The report also said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev explicitly rejected Zelenskyy's offer to swap occupied Ukrainian territory for Ukrainian-held territory in the Kursk region during future peace talks.

Medvedev said it would be “nonsense” to swap Russian and Ukrainian territory, while Peskov said Russia “will never discuss” swapping its territory.

Medvedev and Peskov's statements further support ISW's assessment that Putin is not interested in any compromises during future peace talks and will only adhere to a peace agreement that satisfies all of its maximalist demands on Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War report says.