Negotiations to cease hostilities between Ukraine and Russia may conclude soon. This assumption was expressed by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview with Bloomberg, emphasizing the gradual convergence of the parties’ positions.
This is reported by Finway
Economic Pressure Influences Russia’s Position
According to Budanov, the Russian Federation is experiencing significant economic losses, which could be a key factor in softening its negotiating stance. He noted that Russia is spending its own funds on the war, and these amounts are already being calculated in trillions.
“They all understand that the war must end. That’s why they are negotiating. I don’t think this will last long,” Budanov said.
At the same time, he emphasized that the parties are still adhering to “maximalist” positions in the negotiations, but all participants in the process are already clearly aware of the limits of acceptable compromise.
Russia’s Conditions and Ukraine’s Position
Despite the optimism of the Ukrainian side, official Moscow has not yet publicly demonstrated a willingness to make concessions. In particular, Russia continues to insist on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from part of the Donetsk region controlled by Ukraine. On April 1, the spokesman for the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, stated that “Zelensky must decide today for Ukrainian troops to leave the territory of Donbas. And to leave, to exit beyond the administrative borders of the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’,” adding that this could stop the hot phase of the conflict.
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on March 31 that Russia, during negotiations, demands that Ukraine leave the Donetsk region within two months. According to Zelensky, the Russian side claims it intends to seize eastern Ukraine if Kyiv does not meet this condition, and then the demands on Ukraine will become even harsher.
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes that the pace of the Russian military’s advance in Ukraine has slowed. Ukrainian forces continue to successfully repel enemy attacks on various fronts. The ISW emphasizes that as of the end of March 2026, there have been no significant breakthroughs or unconditional victories for Russia on the front, and this remains unlikely in the near future.