Russia says it is ready to halt talks with Ukraine unless Kyiv agrees to territorial concessions, particularly regarding the Donetsk region. The next round of talks is scheduled for March 4-5. According to Bloomberg sources, it could be key to a possible signing of a peace agreement.
According to sources close to the Kremlin, Moscow is ready to sign a draft peace memorandum on the condition of the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territory of the Donetsk region. If an agreement is reached, a summit with the participation of Putin, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky may be held to confirm the agreements and begin the mutual withdrawal of troops.
At the same time, Russia is allegedly signaling its readiness to leave Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as to abandon claims to the Ukrainian-controlled parts of Kherson and Zaporizhia regions. At the same time, Moscow insists on deploying its National Guard in the occupied territories. The United States, in turn, proposes the creation of a free economic zone there under Ukrainian jurisdiction.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasizes that the fortified areas of the Donetsk region are of strategic importance for the defense of the state, and Ukraine does not recognize the illegal occupation of its territories. Kyiv proposes a ceasefire along the current front line and the return of territories through diplomatic channels, provided that there are clear security guarantees from the US and European partners.
The negotiating teams have already held several meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. US representatives, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have discussed with the Ukrainian side a possible investment package for post-war reconstruction. The Russian side has made it clear that without territorial compromises from Kyiv, further dialogue may lose its meaning.
Separately, the parties are discussing the future of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Russia is proposing to divide electricity generation between the three parties — Russia, the US, and Ukraine. Kyiv insists on a 50-50 model with the US.
Washington’s diplomacy has also intensified around the negotiation process. Donald Trump, during a telephone conversation with Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed his desire to achieve an end to the war in a short time. The US administration is considering the possibility of concluding an agreement by July 4, the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. On the sidelines, March 2026 is also being talked about as a potential window for reaching agreements.
At the same time, Zelensky is cautiously assessing the prospects, noting that the preparation of documents is ongoing, but there is still no significant progress for the final result.
