Will Ukraine agree to the de facto terms of surrender to Russia, or will we manage to soften the terms of the so-called peace plan and make it more favorable for ourselves?Practically all politicians and commentators are interested in having this very topic discussed now. Some need to divert attention from a corruption scandal, while others need to prove that the current government is incapable of constructively reaching agreements with the Americans. Many ordinary people emphasize that Ukrainians no longer have the strength and potential to fight, so it is better to agree to any terms than to continue resistance.In this discussion, the most important question disappears — whether Putin intends to agree to any peace terms at all. It disappears precisely because the answer is obvious."These negotiations are of no interest to Putin. Well, or they are interesting only from the point of view of continuing the war during peace talks or avoiding new American sanctions. Because if someone is genuinely interested in ending the war, they agree to a ceasefire, and only then are peace negotiations held. Putin's refusal to agree to a ceasefire is a clear indicator that no peace negotiations will lead to a result. Because Russia and its interests are absent from them."Therefore, the current negotiations await the fate of the infamous mineral agreement. They are happening only because Kirill Dmitriev slipped an idiotic draft to Steve Witkoff in the hope of preventing sanctions against Russian oil. And incompetent Trump administration employees decided to place this paper on the American president's desk to cater to his vanity and his belief that the war could be ended quickly and a Nobel Prize received."Any concrete conversation will put an end to these speculations. And not because the agreement will or will not be signed by the US and Ukraine. But because any agreement will not be signed by Russia. And without Russia, there will be no end to the war."When the moment comes that Putin perceives as the exhaustion of his opportunities to destroy Ukraine and occupy its territories, when the Russian president needs a ceasefire, he will not need any Trump in this process. Because Putin's own approach will change, his rhetoric will change.When this will happen, in what year such a window of opportunity will arise, no one knows today — not even Putin himself. But it will depend on both Western pressure on Russia and on Ukraine's readiness to continue resisting aggression.And, of course, on the presence of common sense.SourceAbout the author. Vitaly Portnikov, journalist, laureate of the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.The editorial office does not always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.