Russia has reinforced its firm stance on Ukraine peace negotiations, insisting that President Vladimir Putin’s demands must be fully met before the war can end. The statement follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments suggesting potential contact with Putin.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow will not compromise on its conditions, set out by Putin in June 2023. These include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions and withdrawing troops from four regions claimed by Russia.
“The political solution as we envisage it cannot be achieved otherwise than through the full implementation of what was pronounced by President Putin,” Ryabkov told reporters in Moscow. “The sooner the U.S., Britain, and others understand this, the closer we will be to a resolution.”
Trump Hints at Putin Contact, Kremlin Remains Silent
Trump, who has repeatedly pledged to end the war swiftly, told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that he had spoken with Putin but did not provide details.
“I’ve had it. Let’s just say I’ve had it,” Trump said when asked about direct communication with the Russian leader.
The Kremlin declined to confirm or deny any contact between the two leaders. However, Moscow quickly reaffirmed its conditions for peace, signaling an uncompromising approach to negotiations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reinforced Moscow’s position, stating that Russia is ready for talks only if its national security interests are upheld. He pointed to what Moscow views as the “fundamental reasons” behind the conflict, including Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and alleged suppression of Russian language and culture.
Ukraine has previously rejected Putin’s conditions, calling them tantamount to surrender. Kyiv remains committed to regaining lost territory and pursuing NATO membership.
The war, which began in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022, remains the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine.
U.S. Approach to Ukraine and Future Negotiations
Despite Trump’s calls for a swift resolution, Ryabkov said Russia has not observed a significant shift in U.S. policy toward Ukraine. He warned that Moscow would not accept negotiations framed as ultimatums.
“Without solving the problems which were the root causes of what is happening, it will not be possible to reach an agreement,” Ryabkov said. “Variations and half-measures are not the path we are prepared to go along.”
Western nations, led by the U.S., have continued to support Ukraine with military aid and financial assistance, arguing that Russia’s invasion constitutes an illegal land grab. The Biden administration has supplied billions of dollars in military equipment, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed rare earth mineral exports to the U.S. in exchange for further aid.
Putin remains open to discussing a peace deal with Trump but has ruled out major territorial concessions and insists that Kyiv abandon its NATO ambitions, according to a Reuters report in November.
As geopolitical tensions remain high, all eyes are on how Trump, Putin, and other global leaders will navigate the complex path toward a potential resolution.
