Exhausted Yet Determined: Russian Soldiers Insist on Continuing Combat in Ukraine

Diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict in Ukraine have drawn criticism from many Ukrainians and their European allies, who argue that some Western proposals offer excessive concessions to the Kremlin in hopes of a swift peace agreement.

However, perspectives from Russian military personnel and nationalist supporters reveal a starkly different outlook. For many on the ground, current peace overtures fall short of their expectations.

In interviews conducted by phone, eleven Russian soldiers currently engaged or recently engaged in combat in Ukraine voiced deep skepticism about the recent diplomatic talks — the first direct peace discussions in three years — which were brief and produced limited results. These soldiers rejected an unconditional ceasefire proposed by Ukraine, insisting that Russian forces continue fighting until full control is established over the four southern and eastern Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow but only partially held.

“We are all tired and want to return home,” said Sergei, a conscript fighting in the eastern Donetsk region. “But we want to secure all the regions so that we do not have to fight over them again in the future. Otherwise, hasn’t everyone died for nothing?”

These candid insights provide a rare look into Russian military morale and highlight the internal obstacles the Kremlin faces in negotiating an end to the war on terms that fall short of its maximalist objectives. The soldiers’ firm demands also suggest that the rushed annexation of these four Ukrainian territories early in the conflict has constrained Russia’s current negotiating position, as a significant portion of the population would likely view anything less than full control as defeat.