Ukraine & Russia DEMANDS Lt Col Daniel Davis & David Fields

A former British official notes that Russia feels emboldened due to perceived divisions in the West and sees itself as addressing long‑standing security concerns, especially NATO's eastward expansion, concerns that date back to the early 2000s. After the 2014 annexation of Crimea, military‑to‑military dialogue between Russia and the West was cut off, a mistake the official believes eliminated valuable channels of understanding and conflict prevention. Ukrainian President Zelensky has firmly rejected Russian demands, vowing never to surrender Ukrainian territory or accept ultimatums. The gap between Russia and Ukraine’s demands remains wide: Russia insists on territorial withdrawals by Ukraine, while Ukraine refuses any concessions.