This week, several high-intensity Ukraine-focused talks are poised to take place between NATO, Russia, the U.S., and other states in different formats. Ukraine will participate in some of them.

European Pravda provides a round-up of these negotiations. Watch our video or read our article Eight Formats for Putin: How the West Plans to Strike a Deal with Russia regarding Ukraine’s Security.

"Nothing will be done without Ukraine’s consent." Coined and popularized by former President Petro Poroshenko, this assertion is once again high on the agenda worldwide. U.S. President Joe Biden is appealing to it as well. 

Yet despite its mantra-like repetition, Ukrainian officials are precluded from participating in some of the talks concerning Russia’s military buildup at its borders, – for both legal and political reasons – which have already resumed in both Brussels and Geneva. 

While all key western leaders publicly rejected Moscow’s demands, the West has conceded to negotiate with the Kremlin and is actively discussing the Russian ultimatum.

Last Friday, the ministers of foreign affairs from all NATO member states urgently met up to discuss the looming miltary crisis in the region. Subsequently, NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that the Alliance reached a consensus for negotiations, which commenced Monday. 

To remind, the Kremlin wants the U.S. and NATO to divide the spheres of influence in Europe, officially stop the Alliance's expansion in the region, and ban Ukraine's potential NATO membership (watch more in our video on the Kremlin’s demands or read our article The Putin Nutter)

The first round of US-Russia consultations, pre-agreed by Mr. Putin and Mr. Biden, have already begun in Geneva, on American territory: inside the U. S. Diplomatic mission in Geneva. 

Meanwhile, in Brussels, Ukraine’s deputy PM Olga Stefanishyna is partaking in the NATO-Ukraine Commission's meeting. The Alliance invited her to assure official Kyiv that nothing is being done behind its back. It is likewise willing to understand what Kyiv makes of the NATO-Russia consultations.

The second meeting is expected to take place later today. The representatives of thirty NATO member states will gather to discuss Ms. Stefanishyna’s assessment alongside the summary of the U.S.-Russia talks in Geneva, which will have been most likely produced by then.

The next round of NATO-Russia consultations will take place this Wednesday at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, followed by the NATO Military Committee gathering (January 12-13th). The Committee has invited military officials from Ukraine and Georgia to attend the latter.

Finally, on Thursday, the OSCE's headquarters in Vienna will give the floor to the representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the U.S., and the European states. 

Such high intensity talks between western states and Moscow last took place in 2014. 

Read European Pravda editor Sergiy Sydorenko’s view on what to expect from these talks in his article Eight Formats for Putin: How the West Plans to Strike a Deal with Russia regarding Ukraine’s Security.