What Negotiators Miss in Ukraine Talks: Territorial Concessions Would Abandon Real People – and Fail to Bring Peace

(Svitlana Starosvit – Just Security) As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, the Trump administration has ramped up efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, setting a deadline of June 2026 for a peace agreement. These U.S.-led negotiations, which began in Abu Dhabi and most recently saw a third round in Geneva that ended without a breakthrough, have sought a swift resolution that would include potential territorial concessions by Ukraine to satisfy Russian demands. Many observers have rightfully welcomed the recent negotiations as a rare attempt to end more than 12 years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. From the Ukrainian perspective, however, the proposed strategy carries the risk of reinforcing the persistent and problematic perception that Russia possesses a legitimate claim over certain communities living in Ukraine. That notion overlooks the intricate cultural, historical, and socio-economic complexities of these regions by primarily adopting a Russian-centric viewpoint and simplifying the issues to a binary “pro-Ukraine versus pro-Russia” framework. This article explores why restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty is essential to protecting the cultural rights and socio-economic interests of affected communities. Negotiations must ensure that temporary arrangements or ceasefire lines are not mistaken for permanent borders. – Territorial Concessions in Ukraine Would Fail to Bring Peace