Russia Stalling Peace Talks While Advancing on Frontlines, ISW Warns

As the June 2 Istanbul peace talks approach, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has issued a stark warning: Russia is deliberately stalling meaningful negotiations while intensifying military operations and extracting political concessions from the West, The Gaze reports.

According to ISW, Russian officials continue to signal an uncompromising stance, casting serious doubt on the possibility of substantive results from the upcoming talks. Instead of demonstrating a genuine desire for peace, the Kremlin is repeating long-standing demands, such as halting Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine and ending Ukrainian mobilization efforts — preconditions Kyiv and its allies consider unacceptable.

At the same time, Russian troops are continuing offensive operations and recently advanced near Toretsk, Novopavlivka, and Kurakhove, areas of strategic importance in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. These battlefield movements directly contradict Moscow’s claims of seeking peace and reveal its intent to improve its position through force, not diplomacy.

ISW analysts also highlight Russia’s decision to send the same low-level delegation to Istanbul that attended the ineffective May 15–16 talks, suggesting a lack of seriousness. “Russia remains dedicated to protracting negotiations to support continued offensive operations,” ISW concluded.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin appears to be pocketing significant concessions from the United States, particularly around NATO’s future posture. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that U.S. openness to discussing NATO’s eastward expansion is “very appealing” to Moscow — a stance that could severely undermine Ukraine’s long-term security and the alliance’s open-door principle.

With Russia showing no signs of willingness to make reciprocal concessions — such as relinquishing its claims to occupied Ukrainian territories — ISW warns that the Kremlin is using diplomacy as a smokescreen for its broader strategy of aggression and destabilization.

As The Gaze previously reported, Ukraine’s leadership has sharply condemned Russia’s latest statements at the United Nations Security Council, calling Moscow’s conditions for a ceasefire “arrogant” and a direct threat to the ongoing peace efforts.

Read more on The Gaze: Russia Simulates Peace Talks to Avoid International Isolation, Political Scientist Explains