ISW: Kremlin signals disinterest in peace settlement with Ukraine

The Kremlin has made it clear that it seeks nothing short of the total capitulation of the Ukrainian government and the destruction of the Ukrainian state, continuing to publicly signal its disinterest in any meaningful peace settlement.

In a recent interview with the New Yorker, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed that Russia is not genuinely interested in ending the conflict on reasonable terms, instead suggesting that the Kremlin is merely feigning interest in negotiations, Caliber.Az reports via a recent update by a US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

According to analysts, Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine had extended an invitation to Russia to attend its second peace summit; however, the Kremlin has shown no willingness to participate. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on September 22 that there is "no alternative" to Russian victory in Ukraine, further emphasizing Russia's refusal to negotiate on any terms other than Ukrainian capitulation.

Additionally, Peskov described NATO and the West as a “collective enemy.” In a related development, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced that Russia would not partake in the second Ukrainian peace summit or any similar events.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) continues to assess that the Kremlin is not interested in good faith negotiations with Ukraine.

It argues that the Kremlin will invoke concepts of “peace plans” and “negotiations” solely to pressure the West into pushing Ukraine toward preemptive concessions regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.