Russian document proposes prolonging Ukraine war, undermining Trump-led peace talks: No peace ‘before 2026’

A document prepared for the Kremlin proposes that Russia prolong the Ukraine war and drag out peace talks led by President Trump so that “a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis cannot happen before 2026.”

European intelligence services obtained the document — written by an influential think-tank in Moscow with ties to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in February — that suggests Moscow should be ready to undermine any possible peace deal with a list of outlandish demands to keep the war going, the Washington Post reports.

It outlines ways Russia could benefit from raising tensions between the US, China, and the EU to derail President Trump’s position to negotiate peace and says it’s “impossible” for a peace deal to be reached between the warring nations within 100 days.

“A peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis cannot happen before 2026,” the report states.

The document, meant for the FSB’s division overseeing operations in Ukraine, firmly rejects the notion of peacekeepers in Ukraine despite proposals from European leaders.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia would not accept peacekeeping troops from any NATO country on Ukrainian territory “under any conditions,”

It also discusses the need for “the complete dismantling” of the “current” Ukrainian government.

“In reality, the current Kyiv regime cannot be changed from inside the country. It’s complete dismantling is needed,” the think-tank wrote.

The document also dismisses any potential political concessions by Ukraine such as Kyiv’s rejection of NATO membership.

It states that Russia should insist on sovereignty over the Ukrainian territories it has seized during the war and that Moscow could benefit its position by proposing US companies be allowed to develop rare earth minerals in Russia and Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine.

The pro-Kremlin think-tank also suggested that Russia continues to crave more territory.

The document proposes a buffer zone in northeast Ukraine near the Russian regions of Bryansk and Belgorod, along with a demilitarized zone in southern Ukraine near Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

It dismissed any efforts by the US to partially lift sanctions if Russia agrees to peace.

“It’s not clear what would be the benefit for Russia,” it says, adding “the importance of the factor of sanctions against our country has been clearly exaggerated.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Washington Post that the Russian government “was not aware of such recommendations” outlined in the document.

Peskov called the recommendations “extremely contradictory,” and said Moscow is “working with more considered options.”

The former senior Russia director at the National Security Council during George W. Bush’s administration, Thomas Graham, told the newspaper Russia is “not interested in an early resolution of the Ukraine crisis.”

“They consistently talk about the root causes, which … are about the domestic politics in Ukraine, and even more important than that, the European security architecture, which would be the role of NATO,” Graham said.

“A simple ceasefire which doesn’t take that into account is of no interest to Russia. And Trump doesn’t appear to understand.”

The document was written the week before top US and Russia officials sat down in Saudi Arabia to discuss possible peace talks to end the war without Ukraine, according to the Washington Post.

On Tuesday, Kyiv accepted a Washington proposal to enact “an immediate, interim 30-day cease-fire,” after the US said it would stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine and end its pause on military aid.

President Trump is awaiting word from Russian President Vladimir Putin on whether he will agree to a 30-day truce with Ukraine as a first step toward peace talks, but has yet to receive an answer.

Vladimir Putin is “carefully studying” the outcome of high-stakes peace talks between Washington and Kyiv, Moscow said Wednesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US will have contact with Russia to deliver the proposal directly.

When asked whether Russia could accept the cease-fire unconditionally, Rubio replied: “That’s what we want to know — whether they’re prepared to do it unconditionally.”