Kremlin Declares 'Three Pillars' Non-Negotiable in US-Led Peace Framework

Russia has drawn a firm line under the latest round of U.S.-brokered peace negotiations, signaling that three elements of President Donald Trump's proposal for resolving the conflict in Ukraine remain entirely off the table. According to sources cited by the American outlet NBC News, Moscow has defined these points as foundational — the "three pillars” on which it is unwilling to compromise.

Russia's Unmovable Conditions

Officials familiar with the discussions say that Moscow's red lines include the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas, a cap on the size of Ukraine's military, and formal recognition by the United States and Europe of regions Russia now considers part of its territory. These positions, long signaled by the Kremlin, were reaffirmed during the latest negotiations.

The source noted that while Russia remains rigid on these issues, it is prepared to show flexibility elsewhere. Questions surrounding frozen Russian state assets — their legal status and possible future use — were described as negotiable, indicating that not all disagreements are locked in place.

Five Hours of Negotiations Inside the Kremlin

On 2 December, President Vladimir Putin met with U. S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner for a nearly five-hour session inside the Kremlin. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov, who participated in the meeting, said the parties examined several versions of Washington's peace proposal.

Ushakov revealed that beyond the original 28-point plan drafted by U. S. officials, Russia received four additional documents outlining alternative approaches. He indicated that territorial issues were discussed at length but noted that "no compromise has yet been reached.” Several elements of Washington's plan remain "unacceptable” to Moscow, he said.

Territory at the Center of the Dispute

The territorial question has consistently been portrayed by the Kremlin as the core of any potential agreement. On 28 November, Vladimir Putin stated that international recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea and Donbas is the central requirement for any long-term settlement with the United States.

"One thing is when certain territories lie under Russian sovereignty, and any breach of agreements would be considered an attack on Russia. Another is when it is seen as an attempt by Ukraine to reclaim territory. These are fundamentally different things."

Putin also reiterated that Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO remain unacceptable to Moscow. He argued that the pursuit of NATO membership attempts to resolve Ukraine's security concerns without considering Russia's own security interests.

Military Realities and Future Prospects

On 27 November, Putin declared that Ukrainian forces would either withdraw from contested areas or face removal through military means.

"Ukrainian troops will leave the territories they occupy, and then hostilities will end. If they do not leave, we will achieve this by force,"

said Vladimir Putin, underscoring Russia's insistence on changing the battlefield map before any political agreement takes shape.

The Russian president also suggested that Moscow continues to receive "approaches” about potential ceasefire arrangements through various channels, though he did not specify which.

While the Kremlin insists it is open to negotiations, the latest statements make clear that any settlement must reflect Russia's territorial claims, military expectations, and its vision of the regional security order. The coming weeks will show whether Washington and Kyiv can accommodate those demands — or whether the conflict will continue deep into the next year.