Ukrainian frontline commanders speak plainly: peace talks do not change Russia's stance and actions toward Ukraine. Kyiv has no alternative aside from fighting, though talks around the peace perspective flicker with hopes, says Robert Brovdi, also known as Madiar, the commander of Ukraine's UAV systems. 

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“There's no other path visible to us now except continued fighting, even if a glimmer of hope appears: for the old man in the bunker, stopping would mean destroying himself," said Madiar. 

According to Brovdi, for the Kremlin, negotiations are merely a way to relieve sanction pressure. Options for peace may exist, "of course, but it is more rational to act without false illusions," he adds.

“Extracting the worm to the last bit will take time. There are no rose-colored glasses,” says Madiar.

The Kremlin’s strategy remains unchanged: attrition and pressure through massive assaults 

Today, according to a brief daily update, the occupiers are again pressing with a “meat movement” as of 11:00 a.m. on 15 December. Ukraine's UAV Forces have already neutralized over 200 Russian soldiers.

“So by midnight on 15 December (in another 13 hours), there will be a new number. I predict it will reach the full assault strength of a battalion," claimed Madiar. 

Ukraine's Khartiia Brigade: Struggle for Ukraine’s independence has no diplomatic solution 

Another commander, Yuri Butusov of the Khartiia 13th National Guard Brigade, stated that he doesn’t see "any logic in negotiations so far."

“Moscow continues its offensive. For Putin, negotiations are about blocking further sanctions; they are a tool to split the unified anti-Russian front in NATO countries, in Europe, in the US,” Butusov said.

The war against Russia, the war for Ukraine’s independence it is a war that has no political or diplomatic solution, he added.

“Let’s be realistic: the current reality is war. It has exclusively a military-diplomatic solution. ," he stressed. 

Therefore, political positions in negotiations are primarily determined on the frontline by Ukrainian soldiers.

As is clear, both top military figures indicate that for Russia, negotiations are a way to avoid sanctions and wage a hybrid war against Europe. At the same time, Moscow has no intention of ending combat operations.