U.S. & Ukraine Seek Breakthrough on Peace Talks

The United States is intensifying diplomatic efforts to push stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia toward a breakthrough, urging Ukrainian leaders to consider difficult compromises as the nearly three-year conflict continues to drain resources, destabilize Europe, and test American public support.

According to U.S. and European officials familiar with the negotiations, American envoys have privately signaled that Washington is open to a negotiated settlement that could involve territorial trade-offs or phased security guarantees — ideas that remain deeply controversial in Kyiv, where President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly vowed not to cede sovereign land.

The push reflects a growing sense within the Biden administration that the war has entered a grinding phase, with neither side capable of delivering a decisive military victory in the near term.

Political Pressure at Home Shapes Diplomatic Calculations

With Congress divided and voters wary, the White House faces narrowing room to maneuver

The push for diplomacy comes at a time when U.S. domestic politics are having more of an impact on foreign policy decisions. Congress is less united in its support for more military aid to Ukraine, especially among Republicans who are worried about how much it will cost and how long the U.S. will be involved.

Most Americans still support Ukraine, but polls show that worries about inflation, border security, and government spending at home are growing. Lawmakers say that voters care more about these issues as the 2026 midterm elections get closer.

Former diplomats say the government is being careful because putting too much pressure on Kyiv could hurt a key partner, while putting too little could make the war last longer when support is fading at home.

Kyiv Resists, Moscow Watches Closely

Ukrainian leaders have publicly said that the U.S. is not putting pressure on them. They say that any peace deal must include the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and accountability for war crimes. But some Ukrainian MPs have privately said that both soldiers and civilians are getting more and more tired after years of missile attacks, blackouts, and moving large numbers of people.

Russia, for its part, has demonstrated little interest in reaching a solution. Kyiv has completely turned down Russia's requests for recognition of occupied land and limits on Ukraine's possible NATO membership.

But officials say that secret talks are still going on because they are afraid that the conflict will turn into a frozen war like other post-Soviet wars.