On December 3, the Center for Public Analytics "Vezha" hosted an expert conversation with political analyst Ihor Chalenko on the outcomes of night talks in Moscow. Chalenko noted that the meetings attended by Vitkov and Kushner brought no major breakthroughs, with key issues remaining around security guarantees and Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Putin insisted on revisiting previous agreements and returning to the original peace plan proposed by the Russian side. According to Chalenko, Moscow is trying to revert negotiations to a US-Russia bilateral format, with China playing an increasingly significant role by exploring avenues for influence.
The European Union shows varied stances regarding support for Ukraine: some countries slow down military aid, while others, like Germany and the Netherlands, continue to grant new packages of assistance. This diversity, the experts noted, reflects the complex nature of European consolidation around the Ukrainian issue.
The topic of frozen Russian assets and the possibility of a reparations loan was also discussed. The European Central Bank’s decision not to back such a loan signaled the EU’s limited willingness to provide financial support. Information warfare and corruption scandals were acknowledged as significant factors influencing Ukraine’s internal stability.
The discussion covered Julia Mendel’s high-profile interview, in which she accused Andriy Yermak of manipulations and cultivating a dangerous atmosphere within the presidential team. This was placed in the context of ongoing political struggles in Ukrainian government circles.
The experts concluded that Ukraine's external partners should demonstrate more robust support, while domestic politics remain a sensitive issue amid war and reforms.
