In the ongoing diplomatic discussions regarding the war in Ukraine, many Ukrainians and their European allies have criticized President Trump for allegedly offering excessive concessions to Russia in pursuit of a swift peace agreement.
Conversely, perspectives from within Russia reveal a starkly different sentiment. Russian soldiers and their nationalist supporters perceive the peace proposals from Washington as insufficient. In interviews with 11 soldiers currently engaged in or previously involved in the conflict, there was a prevailing skepticism towards the recent peace talks, which marked the first direct discussions in three years but resulted in minimal progress. The soldiers expressed a desire for continued military action until all four southern and eastern Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia are fully under its control.
One soldier, Sergei, articulated the collective fatigue among troops, stating, “We’re all tired, we want to go home. But we want to take all of the regions, so that we don’t have to struggle for them in the future.” This sentiment underscores the challenges President Vladimir Putin may face in negotiating an end to the conflict that does not meet the expectations of his military forces.
The interviews provide a rare glimpse into the morale of Russian troops, highlighting the difficulties they face in reconciling their personal desires for peace with the need to justify their sacrifices through a victorious outcome. Independent estimates suggest that over a million Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or seriously injured since the conflict began.
Many soldiers expressed frustration over the lack of leave, corruption among superiors, and the indifference of the Russian populace towards their sacrifices. One soldier, Andrei, noted the disconnect between the realities of war and civilian life, saying, “Everyone has forgotten about us. We have long ago stopped being heroes to anyone.”
Control of the contested territories has become a nonnegotiable objective for many Russian servicemen, with sentiments reflecting a belief that the sacrifices made in the conflict must yield tangible results. Yevgeniy, a contract soldier, emphasized the importance of maintaining territorial gains, stating, “I don’t want to see any concessions because I have seen the price of every fistful of land.”
Following the invasion, the Kremlin conducted referendums in four Ukrainian provinces, claiming overwhelming support for annexation. However, after three years of conflict, Russian forces have only achieved near-total control in Luhansk, while maintaining partial control in Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.
The Ukrainian government has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, demanding a return to internationally recognized borders. Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky has shown some flexibility, indicating a willingness to accept a cease-fire without security guarantees, which many view as a significant concession to Russia.
Surveys indicate that a substantial portion of Russian society would also oppose a peace deal that does not align with the Kremlin's initial objectives. This reflects the entrenched belief among many Russians that the conflict is existential and must continue until Ukraine capitulates.
Despite the challenges, some soldiers expressed a desire for a cease-fire, recognizing that even a flawed peace is preferable to ongoing conflict. Dmitri, a former paramilitary soldier, remarked, “Of course I want a cease-fire because even a bad peace is better than a good war.” However, he also cautioned against the implications of a peace deal that fails to acknowledge the sacrifices made during the war.
As the situation evolves, the Kremlin faces the complex task of managing public perception and military expectations, with historical precedents suggesting that an unsatisfactory resolution could lead to significant domestic unrest.