Ukraine's pursuit of peace and Russia's demands in the shadow of war

Ukraine wants to reach a solution but does not want to reward Russia for its aggression with territory. Its partners do not want the Ukrainians to be left alone in the room with the Russians. The idea is that a united front will get Moscow to agree to a just peace.

Difference between peace and truce

Russia has previously opened for a ceasefire in exchange for Ukraine abandoning the Donetsk region, which Ukraine refuses.

But the Russians have been clear that they do not really want a truce and that they are willing to continue fighting to achieve their goals.

Russia wants Ukraine to give up five regions – Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, Kherson and Crimea. This despite the fact that they only check in Luhansk and Crimea as a whole.

Among other things, Moscow wants the size of Ukraine's military to be limited, for the country to become neutral and for the "full rights, freedoms and interests" of the Russian and Russian-speaking population to be protected in Ukraine.

US distracted

And the peace process pushed by Donald Trump has lost momentum, a consequence of the war between the US and Iran.

The country's special envoy has not yet visited Ukraine. The trip has been postponed several times, but a meeting may finally take place within days.

Trump has expressed frustration that things are moving too slowly, but Russia has also been annoyed with the United States.

Moscow often refers to the "Anchorage Spirit", an alleged agreement on a peace settlement during Putin's visit to Alaska last year - which was clearly denied by the US.

Brutal battles

And this at the same time as the war rages on. Ukraine's extensive airstrikes against Russia are taking place at the same time as important infrastructure in Ukraine is being bombed.

At the front, things are slow, but the intensity of the fighting is unchanged.

The Russians have set their sights on Ukraine's fortress belt, a wall of fortified cities that lies between Moscow and a full occupation of the Donetsk region – one of the country's main war targets.

And the battle for the cities can take a long time.