- Trump is seeking to negotiate a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine.
- Russia states US proposals require revision.
- Moscow claims to be taking US suggestions ‘seriously.’
A senior Russian diplomat has indicated that Moscow cannot accept the current US proposals to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, asserting they overlook issues Russia believes are the root causes of the war. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov’s remarks suggest that discussions between the two nations have hit a stall.
Ryabkov’s comments reflect President Vladimir Putin’s earlier statement that US proposals were in need of adjustments, made more than two weeks prior. Tensions seem to be rising as US President Donald Trump appears impatient with what he perceives as a lack of progress from Moscow in reaching a broader agreement.
In recent statements, Trump has expressed his frustration with Putin, even mentioning the possibility of imposing sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil if he believes that Moscow is obstructing negotiations.
Ryabkov emphasized that while Russia is seriously considering the suggestions from the US, the proposals are not fully acceptable in their current state. “We find the ideas and solutions proposed by the Americans worthy of our attention, but we cannot agree to them as they are,” he told the Russian magazine “International Affairs” in an interview released on Tuesday.
He added, “Our primary demand—to address the underlying issues that have sparked this conflict—is entirely unaddressed in these proposals. This is a significant barrier that must be overcome.”
Putin has articulated that he wants Ukraine to abandon its aspirations of NATO membership, demand that Russia retain control over four Ukrainian territories it claims, and limit the size of Ukraine’s military. Kyiv interprets these demands as tantamount to requiring their surrender.
‘Extremely Complex’
When asked about Trump’s recent comments urging Putin to negotiate regarding Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that Moscow is “maintaining communication with the United States.” He noted, “The issues at hand are quite complicated. The matters we are discussing concerning the resolution of the Ukraine situation require considerable effort.”
On Tuesday, Russia confirmed its adherence to a US-negotiated moratorium that prevents attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned during a state TV interview that Defense Minister Andrei Belousov had informed Putin of alleged Ukrainian violations during a session of Russia’s Security Council.
Lavrov stated that Russia has shared details of these alleged violations with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Before the weekend, Trump had adopted a more conciliatory tone towards Russia, which raised concerns among the United States’ European allies as he aims to facilitate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has now persisted for four years. However, after discussions with European leaders, such as Finland’s president, urging him to hold Russia accountable, Trump has taken on a tougher stance in recent days.
