Russia plans to use upcoming talks to end the war in Ukraine to seek concessions from NATO and a reduction of the Alliance's military presence in Eastern Europe. Moscow may try to put back on the negotiating agenda demands to limit NATO expansion and to review the European security system.

This is reported by the British newspaper The Telegraph, citing diplomatic sources familiar with the preparations for a new round of talks.

According to the newspaper, the Kremlin is interested in involving European states in the talks between Ukraine, the USA and Russia. However, the newspaper's interlocutors believe that Moscow sees Europe's participation primarily as an opportunity to achieve concessions on security issues that go beyond the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov earlier said that reaching a peace agreement is impossible without talks with European countries that support Ukraine. In his opinion, Washington has so far failed to convince Kyiv to agree to Moscow's terms, so a dialogue with Europe is also necessary.

Russia may demand a reduction of NATO forces in Eastern Europe

According to The Telegraph's diplomatic sources, Vladimir Putin may again put forward a demand to return NATO's military presence in Europe to the level of 1997 - before the start of the Alliance's large-scale eastward expansion.

Such a scenario would involve the withdrawal of allied troops and infrastructure from states that joined NATO after 1997. This primarily concerns Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and also Finland, which became a member of the Alliance in 2023.

Moscow made similar demands back in late 2021, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, Russia insisted on legal guarantees of NATO non-expansion and on limiting the deployment of troops and weapons near its borders.

In January-February 2022, the Alliance rejected the demand to withdraw military infrastructure from countries that joined after 1997. Then NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed that this would create unequal conditions of protection for member states.

According to The Telegraph, the position of European allies on this issue remains unchanged. European diplomats are not ready to agree to a reduction of NATO's defense capabilities in exchange for ending the war in Ukraine.

At the same time, Moscow has not officially announced a return to the 1997 military configuration as a condition for future talks. This possibility is described by sources of the British publication.

New talks are being prepared for November

Russia has agreed to resume trilateral consultations with the USA and Ukraine after a long pause. According to preliminary plans, talks at the level of delegations may take place in the first half of November.

Among the possible venues under consideration are Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, other Middle Eastern countries, or one of the European capitals. The final meeting place has not yet been agreed.

Ushakov warned that he does not expect significant progress during the first round already. In his assessment, the meeting will be of a preliminary nature, since the parties need to agree on approaches to a future peace agreement.

One of the main unresolved issues remains Russia's territorial demands. Moscow continues to insist on Ukraine's concessions regarding Donbas, including territories that Russian troops do not control.

Ukraine insists on concrete results from the talks

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on October 25 confirmed Ukraine's readiness for a trilateral meeting, but stressed that the talks must lead to practical agreements.

Among Kyiv's priority proposals are stopping strikes on energy infrastructure, establishing a ceasefire in the Black Sea, and continuing the exchange of prisoners of war.

For the Ukrainian economy, the security of maritime shipping is of particular importance. Ending attacks in the Black Sea would reduce risks for the export of grain and other products, and also ensure more stable foreign currency revenues.

Zelenskyy also insists on the need for European partners to participate in the peace process. According to him, talks between delegations should prepare a possible meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, the USA and Russia, at which the most difficult issues of ending the war could be resolved.

Thus, the parties are approaching a new round of consultations with different priorities: Ukraine seeks an end to attacks and security guarantees, while Russia, according to diplomatic sources, may try to achieve broader changes in the European security system.

Based on: The Telegraph, NATO, TSN