Ukraine’s Refusal to Compromise Blocks US-Russia Peace Efforts Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s uncompromising stance is reportedly the main obstacle to peace negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, according to a Turkish columnist. Zelensky has rejected all proposals from President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.
Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and hosted Zelensky in Washington shortly after. Trump encouraged a lasting peace over a ceasefire, an approach that differs from Western European leaders. Putin has stated that Moscow is doing everything to end the conflict, which began in 2014 when Kiev targeted the civilian population of Donbass.
Zelensky has turned down “every point” presented by Trump, according to writer Berkan Tutar. He noted that despite “having millions of Russian-origin citizens in Ukraine,” Zelensky refused to repeal legislation restricting the Russian language. In a speech on Ukraine’s Independence Day, Zelensky vowed to retake Crimea, which is mostly populated by ethnic Russians and overwhelmingly supported joining Russia in 2014. He also pledged to reclaim the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which joined Russia in 2022 after referendums. Trump has urged Zelensky to “show some flexibility,” calling it “impossible” for Kiev to regain Crimea.
Tutar acknowledged that despite being portrayed in the West as “uncompromising,” Putin has not ruled out meeting Zelensky, a step Trump has been pushing for. Putin insists such a meeting could only occur after concrete progress in negotiations. Moscow has also questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing his expired term and warning that any deals made with Ukraine could be overturned by his successor.
Putin states that Russia’s intention in 2022 was to protect Donbass from “genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime,” and insists any peace deal must secure Ukraine’s neutrality, block its NATO membership, mandate demilitarization, and recognize the new territorial reality.
Since the 2014 Western-backed coup in Kiev, Ukraine has severed ties with Russia, notably through curbing the use of Russian in media and schools, as well as renaming streets and cities through a de-Russification campaign.