"Putin Is Testing The Limits Of Compromise"
- 9.08.2026, 11:32
What's going on behind the scenes of the secret talks in Vienna?
Although Russia continues to view the United States as the main mediator in the peace talks, according to Western media reports, the Russian side held a meeting in Vienna with European officials. However, the names of Moscow’s representatives in these talks were not mentioned.
Alexander Leonov, executive director of the Penta Center for Applied Political Studies , told “Channel 24” what the Russians’ attempts to establish contact with Europe mean. He speculated on whether such agreements could prove effective.
Russia Cannot Negotiate Peace Without Europe
Leonov believes that the very fact of such meetings means that the Kremlin itself is authorizing them; otherwise, the names of the Russian participants would appear in a completely different context within Russia itself.
“Vladimir Putin is testing the possible limits of compromise, while Europe is testing the limits to which Russia is willing to go. Although Moscow previously spoke defiantly about the impossibility of involving Europeans in the negotiations. But it turns out that without Europe, Russia cannot discuss either the lifting of sanctions or any kind of settlement,” he explained.
In this context, according to the executive director of the “Penta” Center for Applied Political Studies, the EU’s position is crucial. There is a lot of talk now that Putin was in the best position in 2025 to end this war.
“But at present, it is likely that people who do not appear to be speaking on Putin’s behalf are conducting negotiations with both the Europeans and the Americans. This may indicate a shift in the Russian position and Russia’s attempts to establish a dialogue with Europe,” Alexander Leonov emphasized.
At the same time, it is important for Ukraine to understand what its role is in these negotiations and what positions the Europeans will insist on regarding ending this war. He suggested that if agreements are reached on a complete and unconditional ceasefire—which would precede any negotiations—this could work. This is because everything else—in particular, previous attempts to reach an agreement through Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—has failed to produce results.