Maximalist Demands and Red LinesRussia’s demands are clear: Surrender Donbas, renounce NATO membership, accept permanent neutrality, and ban Western troops, terms that would strip Ukraine of sovereignty. Ukraine holds firm to its red lines: full Russian withdrawal, restoration of internationally recognized borders, and binding security assurances. Pressuring Kyiv to cede territory would betray Ukraine, weaken NATO’s deterrence, fracture transatlantic unity, and undermine the EU’s vision for eastern enlargement. A rushed settlement pushed by political pressure without guarantees could freeze the conflict and leave Ukraine vulnerable to renewed Russian attacks. For the West, the stakes extend beyond solidarity: they test alliance credibility, the enforceability of international law, and the broader rules-based order.