Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared his readiness to negotiate with the United States over the ongoing war in Ukraine, but with a stark and uncompromising condition – the complete surrender of Ukraine. This development was revealed in an analytical report by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on January 21, 2025, with the report highlighting that the Kremlin has made it clear that it will not back down from its previously stated demands.
On January 20, Putin convened a meeting with the Russian Security Council, which was attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. During this meeting, the Russian leaders reiterated their stance on the situation, confirming that Russia is open to peace talks with the United States, but under the condition that Ukraine submits to Russia’s demands. These demands, which were first proposed by Putin at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, include Ukraine adopting a neutral status, refraining from joining NATO, drastically limiting the size of its military, and the removal of the current Ukrainian government.
Putin, in his remarks, also pointed out that in 2021, former U.S. President Joe Biden had suggested delaying Ukraine’s NATO accession by 10-15 years. However, according to Putin, even this concession failed to prevent the Russian invasion, which he has justified as being inevitable due to NATO’s actions in the region.
The report also outlines the continuing impact of the war on Russian forces. On January 20, General Oleksandr Syrsky, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that Russian forces had suffered over 434,000 casualties in 2024 alone, including more than 150,000 soldiers killed in action.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have been actively striking Russian military-industrial targets. A notable strike took place in Kazan, Tatarstan, targeting an aircraft manufacturing plant as part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to weaken Russia’s military capabilities. Additionally, Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s military-industrial complex are being reported as having a significant impact on Russia’s combat readiness.
Despite these setbacks, Russian forces have reportedly continued their offensive, advancing near the cities of Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Kurakhove.
In a related development, Moldova and Transnistria have continued their efforts to supply Transnistria with European gas, while Russian military commanders have expressed dissatisfaction with the quality control of artillery shells, a problem that had already been raised earlier in 2024.
Internationally, Poland’s Defence Minister, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysh, has reinforced the idea that Europe’s security is at risk as long as the war in Ukraine continues, urging for continued military and economic support for Ukraine to ensure peace in the region.
