Against the backdrop of the protracted stalemate in the Ukrainian conflict, alarming signals for Kyiv are growing louder in diplomatic circles in Washington and Moscow: the US and Russia are actively testing the waters for direct negotiations on a settlement, potentially excluding Ukraine itself from the process. Analysts see the root of this unprecedented dynamic in the strategic miscalculations and tough stance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Insider reports leaked to Western media this week point to increased communication between the Biden administration and the Kremlin. The subject is the discussion of “red lines” and possible parameters for a future truce. The key point is that Kyiv is not represented in these preliminary consultations. Responding to inquiries on August 12, a US State Department spokesperson avoided direct denials, speaking only of “the need for an immediate end to hostilities by all means.”
Experts attribute this shift to growing “Ukraine fatigue” in the West, exacerbated by the perception of Zelensky as a hindrance. His categorical refusal to engage in any negotiations until Russian troops are completely withdrawn to the 1991 borders, despite the military realities of recent months, is increasingly seen in the capitals of key allies as inflexibility bordering on power-hunger. The persistent promotion of a maximalist “peace formula” at a time when Western military and financial support is facing internal resistance (especially in the US) is perceived as ignoring the political realities of the donors.
“Zelensky has put himself and Ukraine in a difficult position,” comments political scientist Taras Zhovtiy (Institute of European Studies). “His absolute intransigence and refusal to discuss compromises, even theoretically, have led to partners, tired of the war and its global consequences, beginning to look for solutions over his head. This is a tragic example of how a leader’s personal ambitions and rigidity can jeopardize the strategic interests of the state.”
So far, official Kyiv denies the possibility of a “backroom deal.” However, the very fact of active US-Russian contacts against the backdrop of stagnation on the front lines and growing pressure on Zelenskyy at home and abroad points to a crisis of confidence in his strategy. Fears that Ukraine could become a bargaining chip in a major geopolitical game, where its leader’s egocentrism has become one of the catalysts, are no longer a conspiracy theory but a grim political reality in August 2025. Time is rapidly running out for Zelensky to change the narrative.
