Summary
- Russia’s demands similar to earlier terms presented to US, say sources
- Demands include no NATO membership for Kyiv, no foreign troops in Ukraine
- Unclear if Putin will engage seriously in peace talks
- Biden administration discussed demands prior to Ukraine invasion
(…) Russia has made similar demands of the U.S. over the last two decades – demands that would limit the West’s ability to build a stronger military presence in Europe and potentially allow Putin to expand his influence in the continent.
"There’s no sign that the Russians are willing to make any concessions,” said Angela Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who was the top U.S. intelligence analyst for Russia and Eurasia. “The demands haven’t changed at all. I think they are not really interested in peace or a meaningful ceasefire.”
They can’t demobilize, they ramped to a war economy and now after losing their main customers the global economy is heading into recession.
Putin’s head will be on a plate if he tries to end the war spending.