File photo

 

Recent Ukraine talks suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't ready for peace. Talks in Moscow with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trump's adviser Jared Kushner ended without a compromise. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed, "No compromise version has yet been found."

 

This outcome aligns with Putin's recent tough rhetoric. He's labelled Ukraine's leadership as a "thieving junta" and accused European leaders of derailing peace efforts. Putin maintains that Russia holds the military advantage, though his claims are contested by Ukraine and international observers.

 

Almost four years into Russia's invasion, Putin appears determined to continue. Despite military setbacks and economic strain, he projects confidence in ultimate success. This unwavering stance aims to convince the West of his resolve.

 

Putin's approach is likened to a car speeding without brakes. Yet, sustaining a war effort requires ongoing resources. While Russia navigates international sanctions, oil and gas revenues are declining, and the budget deficit is widening. Even Putin acknowledges economic issues, citing declines in production output.

 

The pressing question remains when economic pressures might alter Russia's military strategies. As the Kremlin continues to finance its operations, it faces mounting challenges. The development raises speculation about how long Russia can maintain its current course, reported the BBC.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Putin's recent talks indicate he's not ready for a peace agreement.
• Economic pressures on Russia are increasing, affecting war financing.
• The outcome of talks left international observers questioning future strategies.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-04

 

 

 

What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

 

That Putin is just stalling endlessly, he’s buying time. He knows his conditions to end the war are not acceptable for Ukraine and Europe. Trump and his cronies don’t give a damn either way, they just want to end it so Trump can get the Nobel peace prize. Obama got one, so Trump wants one as well. Even if it means selling out Ukraine. And Putin knows this very well and is playing Trump as he has been all along.

He knows that as long as Trump is in poerr he has a chance of getting everything he wants and more.

19 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

 

That Putin is just stalling endlessly, he’s buying time. He knows his conditions to end the war are not acceptable for Ukraine and Europe. Trump and his cronies don’t give a damn either way, they just want to end it so Trump can get the Nobel peace prize. Obama got one, so Trump wants one as well. Even if it means selling out Ukraine. And Putin knows this very well and is playing Trump as he has been all along.

Vlad wants the old days when the USSR was powerful.  He got a chance as long as the EU is weak it has very little to do with presidents. Remember this started under Obama was quiet while Trump was president then escalated under sleepy Joe.  Trump is simply trying to figure out shott of assasinatio and war how to end this.

Putin's strategy is the same as it's been since the dismal day Trump became a player in world politics. Flatter Trump and he will bend over backwards to be included in the ranks of powerful dictators. He will gladly and without a single guilty feeling throw Ukraine under the bus to achieve this. Anyone who has observed Trump over the past 8 years will know this for a certainty. 

If Trump is allowed to call the shots, Putin will win and Ukraine will cease to exist. 

On 12/4/2025 at 5:10 AM, webfact said:

He's labelled Ukraine's leadership as a "thieving junta"

Well, if that's true, then at least it's a team effort - while you are a singular liar, assassin, thief, mass-murderer and coward.

3 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

 

That Putin is just stalling endlessly, he’s buying time. He knows his conditions to end the war are not acceptable for Ukraine and Europe. Trump and his cronies don’t give a damn either way, they just want to end it so Trump can get the Nobel peace prize. Obama got one, so Trump wants one as well. Even if it means selling out Ukraine. And Putin knows this very well and is playing Trump as he has been all along.

Trumps OK now.He has the FIFA peace prize, an award voted for by 1 person.

1 minute ago, Anthony mellows said:

Trumps OK now.He has the FIFA peace prize, an award voted for by 1 person.

 

But Infantino said the award from "all of the football community". I can't remember voting, but then my memory's not what it used to be.

Putin won’t agree to any peace deal, too much money has been spent and too many Russian lives have been lost therefore he won’t give in, he doesn’t want to lose face.

40 minutes ago, Jumbo1968 said:

Putin won’t agree to any peace deal, too much money has been spent and too many Russian lives have been lost therefore he won’t give in, he doesn’t want to lose face.

Or lose his life.

 What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

Answer:
Russia's intentions remain essentially unchanged.  Namely, as per Minsk-2, autonomy within the Ukraine of the majority ethnic Russian oblasts (guaranteeing freedom of language and worship, and freedom from the extra-judicial killings perpetrated post-Maidan Coup).  The intention was subsequently extended to incorporate the four eastern-most oblasts into the Russian Federation, in accordance with the desires of the majority of their inhabitants.  Plus, as an assurance of future peace, the establishment of neutral status of the rump Ukrainian state, something along the lines of what formerly existed in Austria and Finland; and criminalising of militaristic neo-nazi movements such as Azov (perhaps not to be tolerated in western Europe even in these revisionist days).

 

Not wholly surprising (in view of Russia's ongoing gains in the field and recent developments in the Black Sea) would be if Russia decided to retain Southern Ukraine for security reasons.  Which would be a crippling blow for the Ukrainian rump state.  Taking Odessa could be seen as payback for the video-documented massacre - ignored in western media - that took place there eleven years ago.  There were others, notably in Mariupol.

 

The Ukrainians deserve a better leader than Zelenski and his entourage.  They are in the pay of western financial interests which previously insisted on dumping opportunities for a negotiated peace. More than 70% of the Ukrainian electoral vote went to Zelenski, i.e. crossing the ethnic divide, but he turned out to be something very different to what he presented himself as.

 

The Ukraine war has been part of the ongoing war-mongering needed to keep feeding the U.S. 'defence' industry and now, nearing financially-successful conclusion, another war must be created.

 

However, Europe, with a failing economy and concomitant social unrest, seems ready to take up the challenge, with its rapidly expanding armaments industry; by spreading fear of an imminent Russian invasion.  Europe lacks the global scope of the U.S. and so must identify an enemy in its own backyard.  Heaven help ordinary citizens if they are so blind as to allow this to continue.  For they pay the price, as usual.

 

The trend is now to cut social spending to spend more on armaments.
Weapons ultimately get used, to prove the need for them;
and used up, so they need to be replaced.
Instead of creating peace we now must fight for it.
For the greater glory of the military-industrial complex.

 

As an addendum to my previous posts :

 

The Financial Story Behind The Vietnam War

 

 

2 hours ago, ericbj said:

As an addendum to my previous posts :

 

The Financial Story Behind The Vietnam War

 

 

 

4 hours ago, ericbj said:

The trend is now to cut social spending to spend more on armaments.
Weapons ultimately get used, to prove the need for them;
and used up, so they need to be replaced.
Instead of creating peace we now must fight for it.
For the greater glory of the military-industrial complex.

 

 

It's pointless providing links to overlong videos to support your proposition.

 

These two videos are a case in point; their combined length is over two hours. Even if someone has the inclination to view them, few will have the time.

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

 What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

Answer:
Russia's intentions remain essentially unchanged.  Namely, as per Minsk-2, autonomy within the Ukraine of the majority ethnic Russian oblasts (guaranteeing freedom of language and worship, and freedom from the extra-judicial killings perpetrated post-Maidan Coup).  The intention was subsequently extended to incorporate the four eastern-most oblasts into the Russian Federation, in accordance with the desires of the majority of their inhabitants.  Plus, as an assurance of future peace, the establishment of neutral status of the rump Ukrainian state, something along the lines of what formerly existed in Austria and Finland; and criminalising of militaristic neo-nazi movements such as Azov (perhaps not to be tolerated in western Europe even in these revisionist days).

 

In that case, Russia should have supported Ukraine's desire to become a member of the EU as everything you mention are pre-conditions for membership to be granted.

 

Ukraine withdrew its' application for NATO membership and reaffirmed its neutrality in 2010. This status formally remained until September 2022.

 

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

Not wholly surprising (in view of Russia's ongoing gains in the field and recent developments in the Black Sea) would be if Russia decided to retain Southern Ukraine for security reasons.  Which would be a crippling blow for the Ukrainian rump state. 

 

Which contradicts the premise that Russia's "SMO" is a purely defensive measure.

 

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

 

Taking Odessa could be seen as payback for the video-documented massacre - ignored in western media - that took place there eleven years ago.  There were others, notably in Mariupol.

 

Apparently you believe all Russian actions can be justified. Even those committed as acts of revenge

 

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

 

The Ukrainians deserve a better leader than Zelenski and his entourage.  They are in the pay of western financial interests which previously insisted on dumping opportunities for a negotiated peace. More than 70% of the Ukrainian electoral vote went to Zelenski, i.e. crossing the ethnic divide, but he turned out to be something very different to what he presented himself as.

 

And there you have it. Zelensky has a mandate to govern. Was he a good peacetime President? Debatable.

 

However, your inference that Zelensky - under pressure from the West - did not pursue a peaceable solution to the problems in Eastern Ukraine is nonsense. Zelensky - much to the annoyance of voters in the rest of Ukraine who believed that he was bowing to Russian pressure - agreed to a ceasefire with the separatists and to respect the results of a referendum in Donbass.

 

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

The Ukraine war has been part of the ongoing war-mongering needed to keep feeding the U.S. 'defence' industry and now, nearing financially-successful conclusion, another war must be created.

 

Thus begins the conspiracy theories

 

21 hours ago, ericbj said:

However, Europe, with a failing economy and concomitant social unrest, seems ready to take up the challenge, with its rapidly expanding armaments industry; by spreading fear of an imminent Russian invasion.  Europe lacks the global scope of the U.S. and so must identify an enemy in its own backyard.  Heaven help ordinary citizens if they are so blind as to allow this to continue.  For they pay the price, as usual.

 

 

So Europe with failing economies, mounting debt, stubbornly high inflation, internal social unrest, tensions with both the US and China collectively decides that the best course of action would be to fuel the flames of conflict with Russia: Yep, that makes sense.

That he will continue to assault rape and murder his neighbors if he quits he’s dead and besides he knows he has an easily pliable shell of a man in charge of the arsenal of democracy…..I hear they serve a lot of tacos in the kremlin these days…a sad state of affairs.

On 12/4/2025 at 5:10 AM, webfact said:

Recent Ukraine talks suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin isn't ready for peace.

Actually Ukraine and NATO aren't ready for peace.  The upper crust in politics and war industry in Ukraine and the West are making bank off of the deaths of AFU soldiers.  War IS Money.

Russia's position is pretty simple.  The five oblasts that are now part of the Russian Federation will never be returned.  Ukrainian needs to be demilitarized.  NATO needs to get off of Russia's borders. A pan-European security agreement need to be developed and adhered to.  Ukrainian troops must leave Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.  The conflict will end when all parties agree to an comprehensive peace agreement - not a temporary ceasefire for the purposes of rearming Ukraine.  Russia's been there. 

Putin's stated position?  If you don't want to agree to the above terms, fine by Russia.  They'll continue to grind Westward militarily until Ukraine and NATO finally break.  If Ukraine and NATO want to continue the war - dandy.  They can even tell the world they are winning and Russia is losing.  Russia will just continue to grind West.  If this continues, the next round of talks will contain demands to vacate more land lost to Russia - to the victor goes the spoils.  Stop fighting Ukraine and stop losing territory. 

The smartest thing for the United States to do is to dump Ukraine and the EU/UK, and to forge trade alliances with Russia and China.  A US, Russia, China trading bloc would be the most powerful entity on the planet in the history of man. Beat those swords into plowshares and everyone who matters, win. 

Pretty much sums it up:

 

 

 

15 hours ago, RayC said:

 

 

It's pointless providing links to overlong videos to support your proposition.

 

These two videos are a case in point; their combined length is over two hours. Even if someone has the inclination to view them, few will have the time.

 

The videos to which I offer links are not produced by myslf and therefore I am unable to provide them in the lengths required by those with limited time or patience (2 minutes?, 5 minutes?, or what?).

They are documents for those sufficiently motivated to study the subject.  And only a mouse-click away.
If a book is referred to as source material, there is the possibility, but not the likelihood, of someone procuring the book in order to read it.
If you go to, say, Wikipedia (useful, but these days unreliable on certain subjects) you will commonly find a plethora of references in the foot-notes.  I doubt many people will check them out.

 

You seem to be unaware that Putin, in the early days of the S.M.O., stated he had no objection to the Ukraine joining the E.U..  But that was before von der Leyen began converting the E.U. from an economic union of nation states retaining some degree of sovereignty into an aggressive military alliance controlled by unelected officials.  A sort of N.A.T.O. without the U.S.

 

[Ursula von der Leyen upholds the tradition of her husband's family who owned the first factory in Germany known (thanks to journalist Karl Marx) to have experienced a workers' strike; owing to the appalling treatment of the workers]

As regards Russia retaining the Black Sea coastline as far as Transnistria, that is mere supposition upon my part.  It could be a bargaining-chip in negotiations (like Dien Bien Phu for the Viet Minh).
Opinions from elsewhere:

 

RUSSIA MOVES SOUTH — Odessa Could Fall Overnight | Alex Krainer 

 

THE FALL OF ODESA: The End of Ukraine and the Death of US Hegemony | Yanis Varoufakis

 

 

15 hours ago, RayC said:

o Europe with failing economies, mounting debt, stubbornly high inflation, internal social unrest, tensions with both the US and China collectively decides that the best course of action would be to fuel the flames of conflict with Russia: Yep, that makes sense.

The leaders of the main European nations and the E.U. officials in Brussels are a bunch of nincompoops.  That should be self-evident.  Having been led up the garden path by the U.S., they are now doubling down on their mistakes.  The sooner they are ousted the better.

On 12/6/2025 at 1:10 PM, rudi49jr said:

What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

 

That Putin is just stalling endlessly, he’s buying time. He knows his conditions to end the war are not acceptable for Ukraine and Europe. Trump and his cronies don’t give a damn either way, they just want to end it so Trump can get the Nobel peace prize. Obama got one, so Trump wants one as well. Even if it means selling out Ukraine. And Putin knows this very well and is playing Trump as he has been all along.

You are so far from the truth, Putin wants peace, the UK are only interested in money, they cry babied when their share prices in arms dropped, they are spending tax payers money at will , giving it to the most corrupt bunch of sikos in Ukraine who want  to deepen their pockets even more, These sicko leaders like Macron and Merz want the war to continue as they think there might be rebuilding contracts at the end and minerals, they still think that sicko Zelenski one of the most corrupt can rule the sick neo Nazis that infest Ukraine. Hes one himself ,used to wear Nazi shirts at the beginning of the war till someone said not a good look.

Ukraine murdered 1000's in Donbass after the USA caused a illegal coup in 2014, and there are mass graves uncovered since, all documented ,but smothered by the sick media, BBC,CNN etc. puppets to these psychopaths' that look more sicker by the day.

You can only read their propaganda on other news outlets, meanwhile the world is up in arms protesting , being wrecked by immigration and violence, but the red neck woke fools that populate earth, believe the crap, shame on you, go and join NATO you fools. Putin will not back down to these maniacs that are just using Ukrainian young men as cannon fodder, shame on the world of fools, the same fools that brought you vaccine death and misery, killed innocent women and children and are unaccountable, the same big corporations making guns for the sick Zelenski who should be in a mental asylum along with Germany and Europe's leaders. Blackrock again involved, the major shareholder in the mass extermination, medical, germ warfare ever in the history of mankind.

16 hours ago, RayC said:

 

In that case, Russia should have supported Ukraine's desire to become a member of the EU as everything you mention are pre-conditions for membership to be granted.

 

Ukraine withdrew its' application for NATO membership and reaffirmed its neutrality in 2010. This status formally remained until September 2022.

 

 

Which contradicts the premise that Russia's "SMO" is a purely defensive measure.

 

 

Apparently you believe all Russian actions can be justified. Even those committed as acts of revenge

 

 

And there you have it. Zelensky has a mandate to govern. Was he a good peacetime President? Debatable.

 

However, your inference that Zelensky - under pressure from the West - did not pursue a peaceable solution to the problems in Eastern Ukraine is nonsense. Zelensky - much to the annoyance of voters in the rest of Ukraine who believed that he was bowing to Russian pressure - agreed to a ceasefire with the separatists and to respect the results of a referendum in Donbass.

 

 

Thus begins the conspiracy theories

 

 

So Europe with failing economies, mounting debt, stubbornly high inflation, internal social unrest, tensions with both the US and China collectively decides that the best course of action would be to fuel the flames of conflict with Russia: Yep, that makes sense.

Sure does Nonsense and greed they are all pissed of about their shares dropping in value after the 28 point worthless peace plan was drafted, they treat Putin as a fool yet he is the most stable amongst the other UK imbeciles that want to attack Russia and destroy our world, it does nor belong to them but the are brainwashed narcosis tic psychopaths'. They think they can survive in bunkers and still rule the radioactive dump the are so keen to create.

 

50 minutes ago, ericbj said:

 

The videos to which I offer links are not produced by myslf and therefore I am unable to provide them in the lengths required by those with limited time or patience (2 minutes?, 5 minutes?, or what?).

They are documents for those sufficiently motivated to study the subject.  And only a mouse-click away.
If a book is referred to as source material, there is the possibility, but not the likelihood, of someone procuring the book in order to read it.
If you go to, say, Wikipedia (useful, but these days unreliable on certain subjects) you will commonly find a plethora of references in the foot-notes.  I doubt many people will check them out.

 

You seem to be unaware that Putin, in the early days of the S.M.O., stated he had no objection to the Ukraine joining the E.U..  But that was before von der Leyen began converting the E.U. from an economic union of nation states retaining some degree of sovereignty into an aggressive military alliance controlled by unelected officials.  A sort of N.A.T.O. without the U.S.

 

[Ursula von der Leyen upholds the tradition of her husband's family who owned the first factory in Germany known (thanks to journalist Karl Marx) to have experienced a workers' strike; owing to the appalling treatment of the workers]

As regards Russia retaining the Black Sea coastline as far as Transnistria, that is mere supposition upon my part.  It could be a bargaining-chip in negotiations (like Dien Bien Phu for the Viet Minh).
Opinions from elsewhere:

 

RUSSIA MOVES SOUTH — Odessa Could Fall Overnight | Alex Krainer 

 

THE FALL OF ODESA: The End of Ukraine and the Death of US Hegemony | Yanis Varoufakis

 

 

 

That's a fair enough explanation re the length of the videos and can be seen as helpful however, my point holds: Links are usually provided to support a proposition, not for further investigation. Personally, I am unlikely to read/ view anything much more than 10 mins in length but that is obviously down to the individual.

 

Putin has said many things, most of which are lies. Now that he has reduced much of Ukraine to rubble, he probably doesn't have any objection to the EU picking up the bill for reconstruction! However, the idea that he had no objection to Ukraine joining the EU prior to the outbreak of war is contradicted by the facts: Putin refused to accept that Ukraine saw its economic future with the West (the EU). In particular, Putin's refusal to allow the EU - Ukraine Association Agreement to be signed was the catalyst for the events of 2014 and thereafter.

 

I am no fan of v.d. Leyen but she cannot be held responsible for the sins of her father (if that's what they are). 

 

Once again, you refuse to let the facts get in the way of your judgement: When v.d Leyen was German Defence Minister, she was heavily criticised for appearing to run down German defence forces. More pertinently, she refused to supply arms to Ukraine. Hardly the actions of an anti-Russian military hawk.

 

The EU has been forced to reappraise its military and security spending in the light of the actions of Putin (and Trump). However, unfortunately, many EU states are still reluctant to increase defence spending significantly. Hardly the actions of an "aggressive military alliance". If v.d. Leyen herself has suddenly morphed into a defence hawk, it is directly because of Putin's invasion of Ukraine and Trump's withdrawal of support for NATO.

 

Unfortunately, Mr Krainer's analysis may be correct? I have made no comment to date on the position on the battleground or the military strategy and tactics employed and I'm not going to start now.

 

The idea of watching 20+ mins of Yanis Varoufakis pontificate fills me with horror. His one claim to fame is that while in office he bankrupted his nation. Quite why anyone takes him seriously is beyond me.

On 12/6/2025 at 2:39 PM, ericbj said:

 What Do Ukraine Talks Reveal About Putin's Intentions?

Answer:
Russia's intentions remain essentially unchanged.  Namely, as per Minsk-2, autonomy within the Ukraine of the majority ethnic Russian oblasts (guaranteeing freedom of language and worship, and freedom from the extra-judicial killings perpetrated post-Maidan Coup).  The intention was subsequently extended to incorporate the four eastern-most oblasts into the Russian Federation, in accordance with the desires of the majority of their inhabitants.  Plus, as an assurance of future peace, the establishment of neutral status of the rump Ukrainian state, something along the lines of what formerly existed in Austria and Finland; and criminalising of militaristic neo-nazi movements such as Azov (perhaps not to be tolerated in western Europe even in these revisionist days).

 

Not wholly surprising (in view of Russia's ongoing gains in the field and recent developments in the Black Sea) would be if Russia decided to retain Southern Ukraine for security reasons.  Which would be a crippling blow for the Ukrainian rump state.  Taking Odessa could be seen as payback for the video-documented massacre - ignored in western media - that took place there eleven years ago.  There were others, notably in Mariupol.

 

The Ukrainians deserve a better leader than Zelenski and his entourage.  They are in the pay of western financial interests which previously insisted on dumping opportunities for a negotiated peace. More than 70% of the Ukrainian electoral vote went to Zelenski, i.e. crossing the ethnic divide, but he turned out to be something very different to what he presented himself as.

 

The Ukraine war has been part of the ongoing war-mongering needed to keep feeding the U.S. 'defence' industry and now, nearing financially-successful conclusion, another war must be created.

 

However, Europe, with a failing economy and concomitant social unrest, seems ready to take up the challenge, with its rapidly expanding armaments industry; by spreading fear of an imminent Russian invasion.  Europe lacks the global scope of the U.S. and so must identify an enemy in its own backyard.  Heaven help ordinary citizens if they are so blind as to allow this to continue.  For they pay the price, as usual.

 

A well written piece of Russian propaganda.....🙂

1 hour ago, ericbj said:

The leaders of the main European nations and the E.U. officials in Brussels are a bunch of nincompoops.  That should be self-evident.  Having been led up the garden path by the U.S., they are now doubling down on their mistakes.  The sooner they are ousted the better.

 

The current bunch of EU and UK politicians might be poor but they are not totally economically illiterate.

1 hour ago, ericbj said:

The leaders of the main European nations and the E.U. officials in Brussels are a bunch of nincompoops.  That should be self-evident.  Having been led up the garden path by the U.S., they are now doubling down on their mistakes.  The sooner they are ousted the better.

You must be a Putinite............

 

ODESSA ABOUT TO COLLAPSE — Ukraine’s Last Breath, NATO Frozen | Prof. Jeffrey Sachs 

 

 

 

So, according to some, Putin wants peace and it's Ukraine and the EU being responsible for the war! What a load of crap! 🤣🤣🤣

 

Oooops, sorry, I forgot the military industrial complex! It seems to be very powerful in Russia, indeed! 🤣

1 hour ago, transam said:

You must be a Putinite............

Let each and everyone judge for themselves,

 

But tell me, are you a W.E.F. Deep State propagandist ?

 

Or just google-eyed from watching too much of the stuff they put out ?