Russia used year of peace talks to set records in drone strikes. Now it has suspended talks, as Ukraine refuses to surrender

Trilateral peace talks between the US, Russia, and Ukraine have been suspended, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov has confirmed. Russia will continue working on the exchange of prisoners and the return of bodies of the fallen with Ukraine, he has stated, according to Reuters.

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia had been ongoing for over a year at the initiative of the US. In that period, Moscow set records in drone and ballistic missile usage and has not withdrawn troops from Ukrainian territory. The only progress achieved has been the exchange of prisoners, which began in 2022.

Kirill Dmitriev will continue work on investments and economic cooperation within the bilateral Russia-US group. As Peskov says, “Kirill Dmitriev continues his work. The trilateral group is suspended.”

409,000 new soldiers and zero peace concessions

On 19 March, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Russia plans to recruit an additional 409,000 troops for the war against Ukraine. He emphasized that this shows Russia is not abandoning its intentions and is continuing to prepare for further aggression.

Demand to hand over Luhansk and Donetsk: threat of genocide

Russian officials themselves have confirmed these intentions. Russia reportedly aims to achieve its objectives in Ukraine “on the ground,” according to Sergey Lavrov.

At the same time, Moscow would not accept any peace settlement that preserves the current Ukrainian government, despite its support among the Ukrainian population.

Throughout this period, Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede the Luhansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast, home to around 200,000 residents. Leaving these regions under Russian control after war crimes in Bucha, Kherson, and Bakhmut would likely result in repression, torture, and potential acts of genocide.