For European diplomats, officials and analysts, Vladimir Putin has done little to soften his long-standing war aims in Ukraine.

They say the Russian president wants nothing less than a Kremlin-friendly government in Kyiv , Ukraine blocked from joining Nato and the size of its armed forces curtailed.

When Putin first discussed the parameters of a peace deal with Donald Trump in February 2025, demanding an election as the price for a ceasefire appeared a realistic way of toppling Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.

But as the months have gone by, the US president has slowly appeared to tilt his favour from Moscow to Kyiv .

The apparent change in direction in the White House has made it harder for Moscow to make these sorts of ultimatums.

Maintaining these demands cements Putin as the

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