🇷🇺🤝🇺🇦 Big names, big stakes: after months of tense standoffs, fresh peace talks are on the horizon, but sticky issues still loom large.
Last Thursday, November 27, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin said a U.S. delegation is set to land in Moscow in the first half of next week. On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian and U.S. representatives will sit down for talks later this week.
Putin described the U.S.-backed 28-point plan as a potential starting line, even if no final deal is in sight. "It would be impolite of me to talk about any final options now, since there are none. But some things are fundamental," he noted at a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He added that diplomatic language is key: it is one thing to say Russia doesn't plan to attack Europe–"frankly, that sounds ridiculous"–and another to pin that promise down on paper. 📝
Over in Kyiv, Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, took to Telegram to underline the mission: "The key goal we share with our partners remains unchanged – to achieve a lasting and dignified peace for Ukraine as soon as possible." He said negotiators have agreed in principle on most elements of the plan, but the original 28 points have been significantly revised.
Yet, cracks remain in the proposal:
- Donbas territory: Must Ukraine cede land in the Donbas region?
- Troop cap: Should Ukraine's military be limited to 600,000 personnel? ⚔️
- NATO membership: Can Ukraine keep its ticket to join the alliance? 🏛️
According to Chen Yu, deputy director of the Eurasian Studies Institute at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, "the gap between the two sides remains wide." Russia wants full control of Donbas and a legally binding ban on Ukraine joining NATO, while Ukraine insists on holding defensive positions and preserving its future membership prospects. Europe, for its part, rejects any plan that gives Russia a veto over NATO expansion. And on troop levels, Moscow balks at a force twice as big as Ukraine's pre-conflict army.
With delegations from Moscow and Kyiv set to cross paths next week, the balance between compromise and red lines will define whether these talks mark a turning point–or yet another stalemate. Stay tuned for updates! 🔍
Reference(s):
Deep divisions remain on core issues as new peace talks expected
cgtn.com
