Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
Ukraineh as repeatedly rejected that particular Russian demand.
In January and February 2026, the US, Ukraine, and Russia met for trilateral negotiations in an attempt to find a way to end the war in Ukraine.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the diplomatic push proved unsuccessful, as Ukraine and Russia were allegedly too far apart in their demands.
One of Russia’s key demands was that the fighting would continue until Ukraine withdrew its forces from the parts of Donbas still under Ukrainian control — and it now appears there will be no new round of trilateral talks unless Ukraine actually agrees to this demand.
A serious step
According to the Unian news agency, cited by United24Media, Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian leader, made Moscow’s position very clear:
“Everyone understands, including, I would say, the Ukrainian negotiators, that now Kyiv needs to take only one serious step, after which, firstly, military actions will be suspended, and, secondly, prospects for a serious discussion of the prospects for further long-term settlement will open,” Ushakov stated.
The serious step he referred to was a Ukrainian withdrawal from Donbas, United24Media reported — a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected.
Dismissing diplomacy
The presidential aide doubled down on the rigid territorial demands. Ushakov noted that without an agreement to pull back troops, “convincing each other is largely a waste of time.”
This hardline stance effectively freezes any immediate hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough. Leaders in Moscow insist that Ukraine must meet these specific conditions before any formal dialogue can resume.
Yet the call for a potential long-term settlement stands in stark contrast to recent military actions. While demanding a withdrawal, the invading army is actually escalating its attacks.
Strikes in the night
A temporary ceasefire was supposed to take effect at midnight on May 6. Instead, a massive wave of aerial attacks shattered the night.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched more than one hundred drones and three missiles. The intense bombardment targeted areas including Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk.
Civilians caught in the crossfire paid a heavy price. A drone struck a private home in Kharkiv and injured two people, while another strike in the Sumy region killed a woman driving her car.
Ukrainian officials argue these strikes reveal the true intentions of the invading force. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha declared that the violent attacks prove Moscow is completely rejecting genuine peace initiatives.
Sources: Unian, Ukrainian Air Force, Ukrainian Government, United24Media
