Unresolved territorial disputes stall Ukraine peace efforts

Monday 29 December 2025 - 16:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Unresolved territorial disputes stall Ukraine peace efforts

Despite renewed talks between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow, fundamental differences over territorial control and long-term security guarantees are impeding progress toward a final peace agreement. Although U.S. and Ukrainian officials describe the framework as nearly complete, unresolved issues concerning occupied regions and defense commitments threaten to unravel months of negotiations.

Russia currently occupies around 19 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and large parts of four eastern and southern regions. The Kremlin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the remaining areas of Donetsk under its control, warning that failure to comply could lead to further territorial losses. Moscow insists on full control of the Donbas region, encompassing Donetsk and Luhansk, while Kyiv has rejected any concession of territory seized since the 2014 invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that no peace deal could disregard Ukraine’s constitution or the will of its people, indicating that any major compromise would likely require parliamentary approval or a national referendum.

In parallel, negotiations continue over the scope and duration of prospective security guarantees. The current Ukrainian proposal calls for U.S.-led defense commitments lasting 15 years, though Zelenskyy has pushed for a half-century framework. The plan would preserve Ukraine’s military strength at around 800,000 troops. The proposal under discussion includes assurances modeled on NATO’s mutual defense principle, potentially backed by a European-led multinational force supported by the United States. Washington favors this approach but insists that European partners lead the initiative.

Russia, however, opposes any foreign military presence in Ukraine and demands limitations on Ukraine’s army and a binding pledge preventing NATO’s eastward expansion. While diplomatic teams continue working to narrow the gap, both sides admit that sensitive territorial and security issues remain the main hurdles. For now, hopes of a swift resolution appear uncertain, even as negotiators express cautious optimism that progress may continue in the coming weeks.