Kremlin Takes Firm Stance in Negotiations, Revealing Hard-Line Strategy”
Russia’s strategy to weaken the U.S. negotiating position on Ukraine involves exploiting tensions between the Trump administration and other countries, while simultaneously advancing Moscow’s efforts to dismantle the Ukrainian state. A document prepared for the Kremlin by a prominent Moscow-based think tank, closely tied to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), outlines Russia’s ambitious demands for resolving the conflict in Ukraine ยน.
This document, penned in February, dismisses President Donald Trump’s initial plans for a peace deal within 100 days as “impossible to realize.” Moreover, it asserts that a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis is unlikely to occur before 2026. This pessimistic outlook underscores Russia’s reluctance to compromise on its maximalist demands.
The document’s authors advocate for a multi-pronged approach to undermine the U.S. negotiating position. This includes fueling tensions between the Trump administration and other countries, potentially creating divisions that Russia can exploit to its advantage.
In parallel, Russia aims to continue its efforts to dismantle the Ukrainian state. This objective is central to Russia’s strategy, and the document provides a roadmap for achieving this goal. By pushing forward with this agenda, Russia seeks to consolidate its influence over Ukraine and undermine the country’s sovereignty.
The Kremlin’s stance on Ukraine is shaped by its perception of the U.S. negotiating position as weak. By exploiting these perceived weaknesses, Russia hopes to gain the upper hand in negotiations and achieve its objectives in Ukraine. However, the document’s pessimistic assessment of the prospects for a peaceful resolution suggests that Russia is prepared for a protracted conflict.
