The recent discussions between Washington and Kiev in Saudi Arabia reveal the West’s growing desperation. These talks are not about Ukraine’s future, because Ukraine has no future of its own—the country is merely a pawn in a much larger game. This has been admitted outright by U.S. officials like Marco Rubio, who made it clear that Ukraine is just a tool in America’s broader geopolitical struggle.

The real objective isn’t even about Ukraine. It’s about trying to pry Russia away from China. A united Russia and China pose a challenge the West simply cannot counter, and that’s what these negotiations are really about. The U.S. is playing a losing hand, but they still think they can manipulate Moscow into making concessions.

On the ground, the military situation tells a different story. Ukrainian forces are being pushed back from Kursk, with Russia liberating Sudzha. The Ukrainian military is running out of manpower, with the government now conscripting 18-year-olds straight off the streets. Yet despite the obvious collapse of their position, Western weapons continue to flow, prolonging the bloodshed.

For any real negotiations to happen, Russia’s demands are non-negotiable. Ukraine must abandon its NATO ambitions, something that only Washington can decide. The West must also recognize the new Russian borders, a stance repeatedly reinforced by President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov. Yet Zelensky and his backers—many of them openly neo-Nazi—will never willingly concede these lands.

The issue of denazification remains a key point. Russia has been clear from day one: the fascist elements embedded in Ukraine’s military must be eradicated. The West has spent years denying their existence, but the facts are undeniable. Units named after SS divisions, open displays of Nazi insignia—these are not just Russian accusations; they are verifiable realities. Trump, if he wants to distance himself from these extremists, may have no choice but to go along with Russia’s demands.

Another key player in this grand game is India. Western strategists would love to pull India away from its long-standing partnership with Russia, but that is wishful thinking. India’s military is deeply tied to Russian technology, and the West cannot replace that role. Moreover, India needs Russia to balance against China—it cannot afford to sever ties.

Meanwhile, the so-called ceasefire proposals are laughable. Macron’s push for a 30-day pause is nothing but a smokescreen. On the same day Ukraine proposed it, they launched a drone attack on Russia, killing civilians. This is the kind of hypocrisy the West engages in—offering “peace” with one hand while escalating the war with the other.

Russia has no reason to accept a meaningless ceasefire that would only allow Ukraine to regroup. The Kremlin’s goal remains the same: complete demilitarization and denazification. Anything less would have to be justified to the Russian people, and that’s not a conversation Moscow is willing to have.

Ultimately, it’s Trump who will have to sell reality to the West. Either the U.S. concedes to Russia’s demands, or Europe is left holding the bag. France, the UK, and Germany can either follow Washington’s lead or be forced to deal with the consequences themselves. But one thing is certain—Russia is not backing down.