As international pressure mounts for peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, a 2022 decree signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains a major obstacle to direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The decree, enacted seven months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, legally prohibits Zelenskyy from engaging in negotiations with Putin, a stance that remains unchanged despite recent diplomatic manoeuvres.

The 2022 decree blocking talks

Following Russia’s illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions—Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia—in September 2022, Zelenskyy issued a presidential decree declaring negotiations with Putin impossible. The decree formalised a decision by Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, reinforcing Kyiv’s commitment to bolstering its defences and securing additional military aid from Western allies.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the decree on Wednesday, questioning who could represent Ukraine in potential peace talks given Zelenskyy’s legal restrictions. “He is still legally prohibited from negotiating with the Russian side,” Peskov said during his daily press briefing. He acknowledged Zelenskyy’s recent comments expressing readiness for peace negotiations but added, “The details have not changed yet.”

Renewed diplomatic activity

The issue of peace talks has gained renewed attention as Western leaders step up diplomatic efforts. French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Zelenskyy could make a joint trip to Washington, according to French government spokesperson Sophie Primas. “It is envisaged that President Macron could eventually travel again to Washington with President Zelenskyy and his British counterpart,” she told reporters on Wednesday, without elaborating.

Macron, who was scheduled to deliver a televised address later in the day on global instability, recently travelled to Washington for talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump, as did Zelenskyy and Starmer.

Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has taken a tougher stance on Ukraine, suspending crucial U.S. military aid earlier this week to pressure Zelenskyy into negotiations. It remains unclear whether the aid will resume following the Ukrainian president’s apparent attempts to engage with Trump’s demands.

The stalemate on the battlefield

While diplomatic efforts continue, the war grinds on. Ukrainian forces are struggling to hold back Russian advances along the 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region. The ongoing Russian offensive, despite heavy casualties, has yet to secure a major strategic breakthrough. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians.

During the early months of the war, Zelenskyy repeatedly sought a direct meeting with Putin but was rebuffed. The Kremlin, which initially expressed willingness to wait for Ukraine to initiate talks, now suggests negotiations may only happen under a new Ukrainian president.

With no clear resolution in sight, Ukraine’s 2022 decree remains a key sticking point, underscoring the complexity of bringing both sides to the negotiating table.

(With inputs from AP)