Diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine have resurfaced with a recent meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
While both sides have called the talks “positive,” fundamental disagreements remain, with Russia setting strict conditions that Ukraine rejects outright.
Russia’s Demands and Ukraine’s Resistance
One of Moscow’s key demands is that Ukraine never joins NATO. According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, it is not enough for NATO to deny Ukraine membership—Western nations must also formally renounce past promises of future inclusion.
While Russia does not oppose Ukraine joining the European Union, it sees NATO membership as a direct threat.
Additionally, Russia refuses to accept any foreign troops in Ukraine, even under the guise of a peacekeeping mission.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that any deployment of NATO or EU forces would be considered unacceptable.
This clashes with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s stance, as he has insisted that international forces should help secure Ukraine if NATO membership is not an option.
Territorial Disputes and U.S. Position
Another major sticking point is the status of Russian-occupied territories.
Moscow insists on retaining control over the regions it has seized since 2022, in addition to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
According to 20minutos, the U.S. has indicated a willingness to consider Russia’s claims, a position that has deeply angered Zelensky.
"Under no circumstances will we recognize our temporarily occupied territories as part of Russia. They are part of Ukraine," Zelensky declared during a visit to Turkey, emphasizing that no peace deal should be made without Ukraine’s approval.
As negotiations continue, the deep divide between Russia’s conditions and Ukraine’s demands suggests that a resolution remains distant.
