Recent meetings between US, Russian, Chinese, and European representatives have given a new impetus to discussions around a peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine. In Moscow, five-hour negotiations took place with US and Russian officials. No compromises were reached but the parties agreed to continue dialogue, focusing mainly on the territorial issue and economic cooperation.
The head of the Ukrainian staff briefed partners on the actual situation at the front and warned about Russian disinformation campaigns ahead of potential US-Russia meetings. Additionally, China participated in the negotiations, with its representative reviewing the positions and exploring options for influencing de-escalation.
French President Macron paid a visit to China, coinciding with visits of Chinese and US officials to Moscow. Experts note that these diplomatic moves are part of several tracks: American, Russian-Chinese, and European, each driven by its own interest in ending the war in Ukraine.
At present, despite heightened negotiation activity, there has been no principled compromise among key players. Ukraine stresses the need for a transparent process, emphasizing that no decision should be made about Ukraine without Ukraine. Diplomatic consultations are set to continue, with future steps hinging on signals from leader-level meetings.
The major stumbling block remains the territorial integrity issue, as well as debate over security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia. Western partners and China may both act as active participants and potential guarantors in the ongoing process.
