Russia not ready for compromise: FT names dates when Moscow may return to talks

Informed sources believe that russia is unlikely to agree to meaningful peace talks with Ukraine until February 2027. The Kremlin expects to achieve its military and political goals during this time.

This was reported by the Financial Times, citing interlocutors familiar with the course of private negotiations to end the war.

According to the publication, russian leader vladimir putin believes that by early 2027, russian troops will be able to completely occupy the Donetsk Region, and the United States will persuade Ukraine to make significant concessions.

"Russia's focus on putin's maximalist goals means Moscow is unlikely to engage in any meaningful talks until February next year," the FT quoted a source involved in the closed-door talks as saying.

The russian source also said that Moscow sees the best-case scenario as Washington forcing Kyiv to make concessions.

"The most desirable option for the russians at the moment is for the Americans to 'give' Ukraine to us," he said.

At the same time, senior Ukrainian officials involved in the peace process told reporters that russian officials are insisting that the US must get Ukraine to agree to substantial concessions.

According to one of the sources, Moscow is showing no willingness to change its demands.

"They don't even hint at any concessions. They keep repeating the same goals... Their negotiating positions, in fact, mean that there is nothing to negotiate about," the source noted.

In addition, according to the Financial Times, the trilateral talks mediated by the US are unlikely to resume until at least the end of the summer.

The publication also writes that, despite the slowdown in the russian offensive, putin has set the troops the task of completely capturing the Donetsk Region by the end of the year. This, as the FT notes, is evidenced by Ukrainian intelligence assessments and information from sources who maintain contacts with the russian leadership.

Recall that russia is in a situation where the offensive operations of its army in Ukraine are not bringing significant success, said US Vice President JD Vance.