Ukraine Talks Unlikely in 2026 as Russia Holds Firm
Ukraine talks are unlikely in 2026, with Russia pursuing military goals and drone strikes failing to push Moscow toward negotiations.
Substantive negotiations on Ukraine are unlikely to take place in 2026, the Financial Times wrote, citing unnamed sources in Moscow. According to the publication, Russia intends to pursue its objectives by military means.
The article notes that various meetings on the Ukrainian issue may continue, but a real negotiation process should not be expected. The paper’s sources and observers argue that Moscow’s determination to achieve its stated goals undermines European attempts to bring Russia back to the negotiating table, especially on Western terms.
According to the FT, the Kremlin prefers to continue military operations while also seeking to ensure that the United States ultimately abandons its support for Ukraine. The article states that Russia does not plan to make concessions, while efforts to pressure Moscow have failed to produce results.
The publication also says Moscow is still waiting for the White House to fulfil commitments related to forcing Kiev to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Donbass. Zelensky, however, is not expected to take such a step. In Ukraine, the article adds, officials also see no conditions for resuming negotiations, even with US mediation.
The FT separately stressed that attempts to push Moscow into talks through drone strikes are unlikely to work. According to the newspaper’s assessment, Vladimir Zelensky is overestimating the impact of such attacks.
The article says there are no signs that the growing intensity of Ukrainian air strikes, which Kiev hopes will force Putin to end the war, is pushing the Kremlin toward negotiations. On the contrary, the FT notes, these attacks are only hardening Russia’s position.
Moscow, meanwhile, has already warned Kiev that the more strikes are carried out against Russian territory, the more territory Ukraine risks losing.