While President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky work to set up a bilateral Russia-Ukraine summit, Moscow is making new demands that could cancel out the White House’s recent successes in seeking an end to the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II.

However, Putin is maintaining long-standing demands: Ukraine must formally renounce NATO membership, NATO itself must pledge not to expand further eastwards, and Kyiv must agree to restrictions on its armed forces, alongside assurances that no Western peacekeeping units will be stationed in the country.

Diplomacy has often been the last bridge standing during wars. Even when battles continue, leaders sometimes turn to talks to search for a way out. The war in Ukraine has dragged on for more than two years,