Russia has expressed skepticism regarding the potential for renewed tripartite negotiations involving Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict, insisting that Ukraine must first withdraw its military forces from the Donbas region. Yuri Ushakov, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, articulated this stance on May 7, emphasizing that without this step, further discussions would be futile.
Ushakov stated, “Everyone understands, including the Ukrainian negotiators, that Kyiv needs to take one serious step before military actions can cease and serious discussions on long-term resolution can commence.” He further remarked that persuading each other would largely be a waste of time until Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agrees to troop withdrawal.
Negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, mediated by the United States, have been stalled since late February. This hiatus has been attributed to the situation in the Middle East, where American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have redirected their focus toward addressing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Prior to the suspension of talks, the parties had reached consensus on several technical matters. However, the primary unresolved issue remains the status of Donbas. Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian Armed Forces from the Donetsk region, while Ukraine insists on halting hostilities along the actual front line. Various alternatives, including the establishment of a demilitarized free economic zone in Donetsk, were being explored with U.S. involvement.
Russia has stated it will not engage in new peace talks regarding the Ukraine conflict until Ukrainian forces are withdrawn from Donbas. The negotiations have been on hold since February, primarily due to shifting U.S. diplomatic priorities.