Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: Navigating Thorny Issues

Tue Dec 30 2025 23:59:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine edge closer, critical sticking points such as territorial claims and nuclear power management threaten to derail potential agreements. The complexities of trust and security guarantees present formidable challenges.

Amid ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, two major issues—territorial disputes over the Donbas region and the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—are raising significant concerns. Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains demands for complete control over Ukraine's industrial heartland, while Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky offers only limited concessions. Trust issues between the parties, alongside demands for military guarantees, complicate the path to a lasting peace deal.

Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: Navigating Thorny Issues

As peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine edge closer, critical sticking points such as territorial claims and nuclear power management threaten to derail potential agreements. The complexities of trust and security guarantees present formidable challenges.

Russia, the US, and Ukraine agree that a deal on ending almost four years of full-scale war is edging closer, but, in the words of President Donald Trump, 'one or two very thorny, very tough issues' remain. These include unresolved matters regarding territory and the future of Europe’s largest nuclear plant, currently occupied by Russia.

Vladimir Putin has persistently demanded full control over Ukraine's industrial Donbas region, while President Zelensky has proposed a compromise; however, such concessions may not satisfy the Kremlin. With both sides now suffering from war fatigue, the prospect of a resolution remains tenuous.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, also a focal point in discussions, has been in Russian hands since March 2022 and has not produced electricity during that time. Ukraine envisions it as a demilitarized economic zone, while Russian authorities insist on retaining control. The call for mutual trust in managing this sensitive asset complicates negotiations even further.

Amid these challenges, Zelensky cites strong public support for peace yet faces overwhelming resistance to ceding territory. As the situation unfolds, crucial discussions on security guarantees and financial reparations remain unresolved, drawing the prospect of a formal peace deal into uncertainty.