After Ceasefire: US and Europe Consider Next Steps as Peace Talks Stall Over Donbas; Russia Demands Donetsk Withdrawal

As the three-day US-brokered ceasefire expired on May 11, 2026, American and European officials began deliberating how to translate the failed truce into a pathway toward genuine peace negotiations. The fundamental obstacle remained unchanged: Russia demands Ukraine withdraw from the portions of Donetsk Oblast still under Ukrainian control as a precondition for further talks, while Ukraine refuses to cede any territory currently held by its forces. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that progress toward a settlement would become possible only after Ukrainian forces withdrew from Donbas — a condition Ukraine categorically rejects. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier acknowledged that Washington's peace efforts had 'stagnated,' while Trump maintained the situation represented 'the beginning of the end' and that peace was 'getting closer every day.' The 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange — the most tangible deliverable of the ceasefire agreement — had still not been conducted as of the ceasefire's expiry, with Russia continuing to dispute the framework despite having initially agreed to it. Zelensky's negotiating team maintained a presence in Washington during this period, seeking to keep US diplomatic engagement alive. Trump had earlier met Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago and set a deadline for progress on Ukraine's peace plan. European leaders, including EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and French President Macron, watched closely while cautioning that any settlement must be built on Ukrainian sovereignty, not Russian diktat. ISW analysts assessed that Russia's use of the ceasefire for military repositioning — rather than genuine diplomacy — signals Moscow views any pause as tactical advantage, not a sincere step toward peace.