The peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have been stalled for days due to the requests made by Moscow and Kiev that, not finding points of contact, have led to the freezing of positions. And so, while Turkey and Italy offer themselves as mediators between the two sides to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict, an agreement is still far away, as well as a possible Putin-Zelensky meeting.

The reason is quickly explained. Ukraine, invigorated by the repelling of the Russian army besieging Kiev, has been reiterating the same demands since March 16: withdrawal of Russian soldiers and military vehicles; ceasefire; no to NATO neutrality without guarantees; willingness to suspend for 15 years the status of Donbass and Crimea (occupied by Russia in 2014).

On Moscow's side, however, there is an impassable wall and the Kremlin is trying to gain on the ground a position of strength to be exploited in negotiations. For Russia the ultimate goal is no longer to conquer Kiev and oust Volodymyr Zelensky and his government, but now aims to ensure the security of the two independent republics of Donetsk and Lugansk, and then expand and conquer the entire coast of the Sea of Azov.

On the same subject see also the article published by AVIONEWS.