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The force of coercion: is it possible to continue negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
Ukraine was initially not in the mood for negotiations with Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry told Izvestia. As soon as the possibility of a diplomatic settlement appeared on the horizon, Kiev turned on peaceful rhetoric, while offering absurd things, but at the same time, shelling and terrorist attacks increased. On November 12, it became known that Ukraine had officially stopped contacts with Moscow to resolve the conflict. The UN told Izvestia that they were in favor of maintaining dialogue. However, there is still no reaction from the United States to such a decision.
The situation around the suspension of negotiations
On November 12, it became known that Kiev had officially stopped contacts with Moscow to resolve the conflict, allegedly due to the lack of progress and the fact that the Russian side had repeatedly "ignored all attempts to talk on the merits." However, from the very beginning, Ukraine was not in the mood for peace talks with the Russian Federation, Rodion Miroshnik, the Russian Foreign Ministry's ambassador-at-large for crimes committed by the Kiev regime, told Izvestia.
— I believe that Ukraine has begun to declare its desire for peace under certain coercion. <...> As soon as the possibility of a political and diplomatic settlement appeared on the horizon, Ukraine turned on the so-called peaceful rhetoric, offering some absurd things. Immediately, terrorist acts were initiated on the ground, shelling intensified, and the number of civilian casualties increased. That is, in practice, Ukraine had no plans for a settlement," he said.
At the same time, as of November 13, an increase in provocations from the Ukrainian side has not been recorded, Miroshnik stressed.
"Kiev is engaged in its usual practice, which involves attempts to undermine Russia's domestic policy, because they, in principle, understand that Russia cannot be defeated militarily, and they use terrorist methods almost constantly," he says.
This year, direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine resumed in Istanbul, which were interrupted in 2022. The first meeting after a three-year break took place on May 16, 2025 and ended with an agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war according to the "1000 for 1000" scheme, as well as on the beginning of the preparation of peace initiatives. After the second round, the parties exchanged memoranda and agreed on a new stage of prisoner exchange. At the third meeting, the Russian delegation proposed the creation of joint working groups on political, humanitarian and military issues. However, the response from the Ukrainian side has not been received.
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin positively assessed the interim results of the negotiation process. The Russian side has repeatedly expressed its willingness to continue contacts.
Kiev's decision has already provoked a reaction from the international community: the UN insists on a dialogue between the parties, as this is key to de-escalation.
— The UN Human Rights Office confirms the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in conflict resolution in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Maintaining communication channels and implementing confidence—building measures are key to de-escalation, reducing tensions and achieving a just and sustainable peace," Marta Hurtado, a spokeswoman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told Izvestia.
She stressed that the OHCHR stands ready to provide technical support to any initiative aimed at ending hostilities.
In general, after the termination of negotiations with Russia, Ukraine will sooner or later have to return to dialogue, but from much worse positions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Against the background of such statements, the Ukrainian side should know that sooner or later it will have to negotiate, but from much worse positions. These positions of the Kiev regime are deteriorating day by day," he said.
At the same time, solving the Ukrainian crisis requires the involvement of not only Moscow and Kiev.
— Ukraine is a country with limited functionality, at least because even if it signs some agreements, it is absolutely not a fact that they will fulfill them. Therefore, independent agreements with Ukraine are, let's say, meaningless. It cannot be completely removed from the negotiation process, because they are a party to the conflict, but the decision—making process is not in Kiev," Miroshnik stressed.
After Kiev announced the official termination of negotiations, the Kremlin expressed the hope that American leader Donald Trump was still ready to assist in resolving the Ukrainian conflict. Dmitry Peskov also stressed that Moscow would like to move faster towards resolving the conflict and is waiting for the readiness of the American side.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in fact, stressed that Russia had offered Ukraine settlement options, but Kiev would not be able to agree with them. At the same time, according to him, the United States is now running out of opportunities to impose new anti-Russian sanctions.
"There are not many (opportunities) left. — Izvestia) to impose sanctions on our part. <"> We are running out of targets for which sanctions could be imposed," he said.
It is noteworthy that there has been no reaction from Europe to Ukraine's actions. In general, after the beginning of Donald Trump's coming to power and the beginning of attempts at a peaceful settlement, Brussels, on the contrary, advocated increasing support for Kiev. On November 13, for example, it became known that Northern Europe and the Baltic States would allocate $500 million for military assistance to Ukraine.
It cannot be ruled out that by officially stopping the negotiations, Kiev fulfilled the wishes of the European Union.
— This statement, which was made by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, firstly, emphasizes that Kiev was not going to fulfill anything, went to negotiations under certain pressure. And now they have fulfilled the will of those Western masters who seized the initiative, mainly the European Union and a number of European states that are now sponsors and de facto masters of the Kiev regime. <...> Ukraine could fulfill the wishes, — Rodion Miroshnik draws attention.
What could be the reaction of the United States
Experts believe that the United States should expect a direct or indirect reaction to Ukraine's actions. The indirect reason may be the increase in corruption scandals in the country, which have already been widely publicized recently.
"Trump is already showing his dissatisfaction with Kiev, because this corruption scandal that is happening in the country now, it is certainly happening at the suggestion of the United States," Vladimir Oleinik, a member of the council of the international public association The Other Ukraine, told Izvestia.
US President Donald Trump
On November 10, businessman Timur Mindich also left Ukraine — he did so just a few hours before the staff of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) began searching his place. At that time, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) conducted a large-scale operation called Midas aimed at exposing corruption schemes in the state-owned company Energoatom, in which Mindich, as well as the Minister of Justice of Ukraine, German Galushchenko, and the Minister of Energy, Svetlana Grinchuk, were allegedly involved. On November 12, it became known that the first was dismissed from his post, and the second wrote a letter of resignation.
On November 13, Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree imposing sanctions on Timur Mindich. At the same time, the businessman is considered close to the entourage of the Ukrainian leader.
— New large-scale corruption revelations should be expected in the near future. I think Yermak the jack will be next, followed by Zelensky the king. Trump understands how it will end: either he will have to remove the Ukrainian leader, or he will leave on his own. In any case, as long as Zelensky is in power, the likelihood of negotiations is significantly reduced," Oleinik emphasizes.
On November 13, information also began to appear in the Western media that NABU plans to check the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for corruption in concluding defense contracts.
Donald Trump, seeking to realize one of his key election promises, is actively promoting a plan to end the Ukrainian crisis. According to the American leader, the conflict, which has been going on for more than three years, can be stopped quickly if the parties show flexibility and return to the negotiating table. Trump initially promised, in his usual manner, to end hostilities "within 24 hours" after taking office.
Actually, it was this issue that caused the partial deterioration of relations between the United States and Ukraine. In February 2025, a meeting in the Oval Office escalated into a heated exchange: the American leader accused Kiev of unwillingness to compromise and insufficient gratitude for the assistance provided, and also expressed the opinion that Ukraine was responsible for the escalation of the conflict. In March, the United States temporarily suspended military aid supplies and intelligence sharing, citing the need to encourage the Ukrainian side to engage in constructive dialogue.
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