Russia hammers Ukraine as talks proceed
The mounting death toll in Ukraine has forced President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider concessions to Russia in order to bring an end to the devastating conflict.
The secretive rounds of meetings between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators could hold the key to ending the conflict but also carry broader implications for European security depending on how the warring parties settle their differences. If Russian President Vladimir Putin can use military force to compel political change in Ukraine, he could use the same tactic elsewhere, U.S. and European officials fear.
The prospects of a near-term deal look bleak, diplomats say, but mixed signals from Zelenskyy about how close he is to striking an agreement only heightened anxiety about the trajectory of the negotiations.
Russia has sought to pummel Ukraine into submission through artillery barrages, cruise missile strikes and a severing of supply routes that have prompted a humanitarian disaster and forced more than 3 million people to flee the country.
Zelenskyy, however, has remained defiant, saying his country wants peace – but not at any cost.
Even if Zelenskyy manages to strike a deal, implementing it could be difficult. Ukraine’s NATO aspirations were baked into its constitution in a 2019 amendment. An unequivocal rejection of NATO membership is Putin’s main demand.
U.S. and European officials say they do not see signs that Russia is stopping its attack. One key measure, officials said, was whether Russian troops were digging defensive lines to solidify control of the territory they have captured. That hasn’t started yet, signifying a likely intent to push forward.