Kremlin’s pressure and Kyiv’s position: why Ukraine will not participate in the next negotiations?
19 March 18:42
Ukraine will not take part in the talks in Saudi Arabia between the United States and Russia, which are scheduled to take place on March 23. This was announced by Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office (PO), in a commentary to The Guardian, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
According to him, the final decision on further negotiations will depend on the agreements of the leaders of the two states – Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Moscow also indirectly influenced the decision to refuse to participate in the talks in Saudi Arabia. The Kremlin is still demanding that Ukraine’s European allies stop providing logistical support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces before and during a possible ceasefire (currently, it is a 30-day ceasefire – ed.).
“Putin wants Ukraine to disarm, to give up security guarantees, the right to alliances and territories. He failed to achieve this militarily, and now he wants to do it through negotiations,” Podolyak said.
Truce or trap? Ukraine discusses ceasefire conditions with the US
on March 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an important phone conversation about the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. The discussion followed previous talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which a 30-day ceasefire was proposed. This temporary agreement was intended to stop attacks on critical infrastructure, enable humanitarian efforts, and pave the way for further diplomatic negotiations.
Ceasefire and immediate challenges
The ceasefire proposal, which initially received preliminary approval from Moscow, was intended to reduce the intensity of hostilities and facilitate the exchange of prisoners and humanitarian aid. However, shortly after the announcement, reports emerged that Russian troops continued to launch drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure. This caused immediate concern in Kyiv about Russia’s commitment to de-escalation.
Zelenskyy emphasized in his conversation with Trump that any ceasefire agreement must be strictly enforced and that Russia’s continued attacks contradict its stated willingness to negotiate. Ukrainian officials noted that previous ceasefire attempts have been used by Moscow to regroup and reinforce its forces, not to achieve genuine peace.
Diplomatic positions of Trump and Zelenskyy
After the phone call, US President Donald Trump characterized the discussion as “very good” in his post on Truth Social, expressing optimism about progress in resolving the war. However, his approach to the negotiations caused a mixed reaction.
“A large part of the conversation was based on yesterday’s conversation with President Putin to reconcile the requests and needs of Russia and Ukraine. We are on the right track, and I will ask Secretary Rubio and National Security Advisor Walz to provide an accurate description of the issues discussed,” the American president wrote.
Some analysts see his emphasis on securing a ceasefire as a pragmatic move to reduce immediate violence, while others fear it could lead to concessions to Russia.
Zelenskyy, for his part, has remained steadfast in his position that Ukraine will not accept territorial concessions as part of any deal. He reiterated that recognizing Russian control over the occupied territories is not an option, as it would undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts.
Prisoner exchange as a positive development
Despite the fighting, Ukraine and Russia successfully exchanged prisoners on March 19. Under the agreement, each side released 175 captured soldiers. While this was seen as a step in the right direction, it had little impact on the overall dynamics of the war. Ukrainian officials welcomed the exchange, but emphasized that real peace could only come after the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
International reaction and next steps
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with European and NATO leaders expressing both cautious optimism and skepticism about Russia’s true intentions.
For example, the US National Security Advisor Mike Walz called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “tough man” and assured that the US government had no illusions about this man.
“These are tough negotiations. Putin is a tough man. We have no illusions about who we are dealing with. But both sides are interested in putting an end to the killings,” Walz said.
The position of the US Congress remains divided, with some lawmakers insisting on continued military assistance to Ukraine, while others favor diplomatic solutions that may include territorial compromises.
In the future, further talks are expected to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These talks will focus on extending the ceasefire and developing a more comprehensive strategy to end the war. The success of these efforts will depend on whether Russia will honor its commitments and whether Ukraine will receive the necessary security guarantees to prevent further aggression.
As the situation evolves, the balance between diplomacy, military strategy, and geopolitical interests will determine the next phase of the conflict. Although Trump’s call to Zelenskyy was already an important moment in the ongoing negotiations, the path to a lasting settlement remains uncertain.
