During talks in Turkey, Russia’s terms made it clear that President Vladimir Putin is not aiming for peace. Instead, he wants Ukraine to surrender completely. Ukraine made some concessions in the second round of talks in Istanbul. However, Putin stuck to his extreme demands and refused to find any middle ground.

Putin Seeks Total Control Over Ukrainian Territory

Putin not only demands the recognition of territories Russia has occupied since 2014 but also wants Ukraine to give up more land. He claims territories that Ukraine controls but does not occupy.

Like the strict Treaty of Versailles imposed on Germany after World War I, Putin wants to limit Ukraine’s military. He demands restrictions on the size, equipment, and movement of Ukrainian forces after the war ends.

A Buffer Zone to Further Shrink Ukraine

In addition to controlling five Ukrainian provinces (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia), Putin seeks to create a buffer zone on the Ukrainian side of the new border. The zone's length is unspecified but would further reduce Ukraine’s land.

Putin Wants to Restrict Ukraine’s Future Military Alliances

Furthermore, Putin wants to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. He also demands that Ukraine stop hosting foreign troops and military partnerships. According to Russia analyst Kseniya Kirillova, Putin is intentionally stalling peace talks. She states, “Such conditions are unacceptable for Ukraine. Putin is deliberately setting impossible conditions to prolong the negotiations. He is hoping for a summer offensive to break the will of Ukrainian society. Ukraine can only hope that President Trump will lose patience with Putin sooner than that.”

Zelenskyy Makes Concessions, Putin Sticks to Maximalist Demands

In a shift from earlier in the war, Zelenskyy has stopped demanding the return of Russian-occupied territories. Now, he only wants the international community to avoid recognizing Russia’s occupation. In fact, Zelenskyy has suggested that Ukraine could accept Russia keeping the territory it already controls but without global recognition.

Putin Continues Demanding More Land

However, Putin has not softened his stance. He insists on taking more land from Ukraine. Currently, Russia controls about 19% of Ukrainian land, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014. But Putin is pushing for recognition of these occupied territories and also demanding that Ukraine surrender additional land.

Putin’s Demands Would Reshape Ukraine’s National Identity

Putin’s demands go beyond land. He wants the Russian language to be used in formal business in Ukraine. He also seeks to revive the pro-Russian Ukrainian Orthodox Church and ban Ukrainian groups he calls “nationalist formations.”

Putin Wants Ceasefire Control via the UNSC

While Ukraine asks for a ceasefire monitored by the U.S. and other countries, Putin wants the United Nations Security Council to oversee any ceasefire. Since Russia and China hold veto powers at the UNSC, this would give Russia significant control.

Ukrainian Official: Russia is Stalling Negotiations

After Russia submitted these harsh terms, Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff, criticized Russia’s approach. He said, “Russia has no genuine intention of ceasing hostilities” and accused Putin of “stalling and manipulating the negotiation process.” Yermak added that only strong sanctions could force Russia into serious negotiations.

Ukraine Strikes Back, While Trump Faces Pressure

As peace talks continue to stall, Ukraine has turned to bold military actions. Before the Istanbul talks, Ukraine launched a drone attack on five Russian airbases. The strikes destroyed nearly a third of Russia’s long-range bombers and surveillance planes. Ukraine also targeted two major rail bridges, and just after the talks, attacked the Kerch bridge that links Crimea to Russia.

Ukraine Tries to Strengthen Its Negotiating Position

Swasti Rao, a European affairs scholar, believes Ukraine is using these strikes to strengthen its position in talks. She explains, “While the final outcome is unlikely to change with such attacks… such strikes allow Ukraine to have a firm place at the negotiating table and ensure that Trump and Putin do not cut a deal about the war without Ukraine and Europe’s final say. Such strikes also send a message to Moscow and Washington DC that Ukraine can also deliver blows and the war is not as one sided as one would have thought.”

Trump Faces Pressure but Supports Putin’s Demands

Despite pressure from many sides, U.S. President Donald Trump has not toughened his stance on Putin. In fact, Trump’s actions have helped Putin hold firm on his terms.

Last month, despite Putin ignoring ceasefire proposals and continuing to attack civilians, Trump backed off. He dropped his demand for an immediate ceasefire and endorsed Putin’s call for direct talks.

Kirillova: Trump Focuses on Results, Not Justice

Kirillova argues that Trump is focused on ending the war quickly rather than addressing its causes or moral issues. She says, “The root causes of the war or its moral dimensions appear to be of secondary importance to him. He is focused on delivering results and, in doing so, he is exerting pressure on the weaker party — Ukraine. Consequently, he is offering certain concessions to Putin while pressuring Zelensky.”