Russia and Ukraine remain deadlocked over key territorial claims

MOSCOW — Russia currently controls about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory and is demanding that Kyiv surrender the remaining parts of the Donbas region not yet under its occupation.

The demand comes amid reports that Ukraine is seeking the return of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the country’s largest atomic facility.

These opposing requirements reflect a hardening of positions on both sides. Such rigid stances are further complicating international efforts to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

The deepening strategic deadlock between Moscow and Kyiv suggests that a diplomatic resolution to the conflict remains a distant prospect. Russia’s insistence on full control over the Donbas region serves a dual purpose: legitimizing its annexed territories while cementing a permanent security buffer. This stance underscores the Kremlin’s refusal to pivot from its primary geopolitical objectives.

For Ukraine, the reclamation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has become a non-negotiable priority. Beyond its role as a symbol of national sovereignty, the facility is a critical asset in the nation's energy infrastructure, previously providing a substantial share of the domestic power supply. Continued Russian occupation of the site poses a persistent nuclear security threat to the broader European continent and grants Moscow significant strategic leverage.

The fundamental divergence between these core aims—territorial expansionism on one side and the restoration of sovereign integrity and infrastructure security on the other—indicates that the conflict is poised to remain a protracted war of attrition. Any future diplomatic efforts will face near-insurmountable hurdles as long as these entrenched demands remain at the forefront of both agendas.