Russia has firmly rejected the idea of making any concessions in future peace talks concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine, saying it will not compromise and dismissing the possibility of deploying peacekeepers in Ukraine or agreeing to a ceasefire through negotiations. This sudden shift in strategy came after former U.S. President Donald Trump sided with Putin by halting all military assistance to Ukraine and stopping the sharing of vital intelligence.
On March 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a visit to the Moscow branch of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, declared that Russia would not “give in to anyone.” Putin emphasized that Russia would not give up any of its territory, including the regions in Ukraine it has illegally annexed.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added that Moscow would not entertain proposals to deploy European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. He argued that such a move would be viewed as NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict, a position that Moscow strongly opposes. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also made it clear that any proposals aimed at giving Ukraine a “respite” on the battlefield would be unacceptable to Russia.
This rejection of negotiations follows a significant shift in U.S. policy under the Trump administration. Trump had paused not only military aid and financial support to Ukraine but also critical intelligence sharing. This intelligence has been vital for Ukraine in blocking missile and drone attacks and targeting Russian forces. U.S. European Command confirmed that shipments of arms, approved by the Biden administration but not yet delivered, were also paused.
Trump’s shift in policy aligns more closely with Russia’s narrative justifying the war. He has reportedly pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept a ceasefire deal that would involve significant concessions from Ukraine. This move adds to growing concerns about Trump’s position, as it mirrors Moscow’s goals and rhetoric, further complicating efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to escalate its military attacks on Ukraine. With the pause in U.S. support, Russian forces are likely seeking to exploit the situation and push forward their offensive. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has significantly increased its use of Shahed drones and decoy drones, adapting tactics to counter Ukraine’s air defense systems.
On the night of March 6-7, Russia launched its largest missile and drone strike since November 2024, deploying 67 missiles and 194 drones. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted and downed a significant number of these missiles and drones. Ukrainian forces successfully shot down 25 Kh-101/Kh-55 cruise missiles, all eight Kalibr cruise missiles, one Kh-59/69 missile, and 100 Shahed and decoy drones. Additionally, 86 decoy drones and up to 10 missiles failed to reach their targets, likely due to Ukrainian electronic warfare measures.
The frequency and scale of these attacks have intensified since Trump took office. In January 2025, Russia launched an average of 83 drones per strike package. By February, the number of drones per strike package increased to 139, and by the first week of March, Russia continued to launch an average of 128 drones per strike.
These increased strikes, including a combination of drones and missiles, mark a shift in Russia’s military strategy. The aim is to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and cause significant damage to Ukraine’s infrastructure. The March 6-7 attack, involving 67 missiles, represents a change in tactics, with a higher volume of strikes designed to break through Ukraine’s defenses.
With the pause in U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing, Ukraine faces a growing challenge in managing its air defense systems. Experts believe Russia’s strategy of using increasing numbers of drones aims to saturate Ukrainian defenses and place persistent pressure on both military and civilian targets.
