As the United States renews its diplomatic push to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, Moscow is making something clear: its position has not changed.
While U.S., Ukrainian, and Russian officials met for trilateral talks in January and again in early February — with another round expected next week — the Kremlin has used the same period to restate its position.
As Washington speaks of momentum and narrowing gaps, Russia’s most senior officials have publicly dismissed key elements of the proposed framework.
For three consecutive days, from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly undercut suggestions that negotiations were advancing.
His message was consistent and direct: Russia’s territorial and political demands remain intact, and any serious discussion must revolve around Ukraine accepting them.
Isn’t it as simple as Putin wanting the USSR to be restored?
No. The USSR wasn’t just a federation. It was a entirely different economic model and mode of production. Putin has no interest in getting rid of capitalism. I’m not arguing that the USSR was a workers paradise. But it was something novel that did not exist anywhere else and cannot simply be restored by taking the territory of neighbouring states and subjugating their people.
It’s more nuanced that that - he definitely doesn’t want USSR back in terms of economical or political system as is, but he does want to bring back USSR in the name (to get legacy and accomplishments association) and get the same consolidated power to build the totalitarian oligarchy somewhat similar to USSR, but without some checks and balances that were still present even in USSR