Russia is planning to demand that Ukraine significantly reduce its military ties with NATO in any upcoming discussions with the elected U.S. President, Donald Trump. According to a report by Bloomberg, sources close to Moscow’s preparations say that the Kremlin will insist Ukraine revert to the status of a neutral state with limited military capabilities.
The report indicates that Moscow’s position allows individual NATO countries to supply Ukraine with weapons through bilateral agreements, but with restrictions on their use. Russia insists that these weapons should not be used against Russian forces or to reclaim Ukrainian territories controlled by Moscow.
Additionally, Moscow will insist on maintaining control over about 20% of Ukrainian territory occupied since the beginning of the war, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed openness to negotiations, including the possibility of “territorial exchanges,” but these conditions are expected to be unacceptable to Kyiv.
Donald Trump, who has stated that he is working on a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been presented as a mediator to end the conflict. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that there have been no concrete preparations for such talks so far.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict remains a source of deep territorial disputes and international tensions. Moscow’s proposals, calling for a weakened Ukraine with limited control over its territories, are expected to face strong opposition from Kyiv and its Western allies. Meanwhile, the stance of the new U.S. administration on these negotiations will play a crucial role in shaping the conflict dynamics and prospects for peace.
