Divergent paths: key stances of Russia and Ukraine in peace negotiations

As diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war intensify, the positions of Kyiv and Moscow on critical issues such as security guarantees and territorial control remain sharply divided. Recent US-mediated discussions, including talks in Miami, have focused on a revised peace framework, moving from an initial draft that required significant Ukrainian concessions.

Ukraine's Compromise on NATO and Demand for Guarantees

A significant shift from Kyiv is its willingness to abandon the pursuit of NATO membership in exchange for legally binding, robust Western security guarantees. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described this as a necessary compromise, insisting guarantees must include a mutual defense clause akin to NATO's Article 5. Ukraine firmly opposes any peace model involving demilitarized zones or foreign-controlled buffer areas, fearing they would be unenforceable and merely postpone future conflict.

Russia's Insistence on Territorial Realities and Security Veto

Moscow's core demands include the recognition of territorial "realities on the ground," referencing regions it has constitutionally claimed. The Kremlin maintains that Ukraine's non-accession to NATO is a non-negotiable security imperative. While stating that the deployment of foreign troops is a "subject for discussion," Russia is deeply skeptical of Western security guarantees involving foreign forces on Ukrainian soil. It seeks a comprehensive, binding security arrangement that permanently neutralizes what it perceives as a threat from Ukraine.

The Intractable Issue of Territory and Sovereignty

Territorial integrity remains the most sensitive point. Ukraine insists its internationally recognized borders must be respected and rejects any withdrawal of its troops from Donbas as "rewarding aggression." Zelenskyy has suggested a ceasefire along current lines could be realistic but does not equate to recognition of Russian control. Conversely, Russia declares that "Donbas is Russian" by its own law and rejects temporary ceasefires as deceptive respites that allow Ukraine to rearm, demanding a definitive settlement that secures its gains.