Zelenskyy should have made peace years ago…now his position is much weaker…all he can do is say yes sir to Putin…
Early negotiation attempts, such as the Istanbul talks in March-April 2022 (shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion), broke down over Russia’s demands for Ukrainian demilitarization, neutrality, and recognition of annexed territories.
These were existential threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty. Subsequent rounds (e.g., in 2023) failed similarly due to mutual distrust and battlefield escalations. Zelensky’s “peace formula” since late 2022 has emphasized territorial integrity, troop withdrawals, and security guarantees, which Russia dismissed.
while Ukraine’s battlefield position has weakened in some respects, active multilateral talks (e.g., Miami sessions continuing into December 2025) give Zelensky negotiating tools he lacked earlier. The war’s outcome remains uncertain, with both sides facing attrition costs—Russia’s economy strained by sanctions, Ukraine’s by losses. A negotiated end is possible but depends on mutual compromises, not one-sided capitulation.