Russia's top diplomat for U.S. relations stated on Monday that all of President Vladimir Putin's conditions must be fully met before the war in Ukraine can end, signaling Moscow's tough stance in negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Russia's Foreign Minister emphasized that while Moscow is open to talks with Ukraine, progress can only be made if the "fundamental causes" of the nearly three-year conflict are addressed.
Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, mentioned on Sunday that he believes he is making progress. However, he has not detailed his plans for resolving the conflict. When asked if he had spoken with Putin since his inauguration on January 20 or before, Trump cryptically told reporters on Air Force One, "I’ve had it. Let's just say I’ve had it." The Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied any such communication.
Moscow reiterated that its maximalist demands, as outlined by Putin in June, remain the starting point for any negotiations. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking at a Moscow press briefing in English, stressed that a political solution is only possible through the full implementation of Putin's conditions. "The sooner the U.S., Britain, and others understand this, the better it will be for everyone, and the closer we will be to a desired political resolution," Ryabkov said.
In his June 14 speech to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Putin laid out his terms: Ukraine must abandon its aspirations to join NATO and withdraw its troops from the four regions largely controlled by Russia. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking on Diplomatic Service Day, reiterated Moscow's readiness for talks that uphold Russia's "legal national interests." He emphasized that any agreement must ensure a comprehensive security system that harms no one.
Lavrov added that any resolution depends on the "full and irreversible elimination of the conflict's root causes," including Ukraine's NATO ambitions and the suppression of Russian language and culture in Ukraine. Kyiv, which aims to join NATO and regain control of lost territories, dismissed these conditions as tantamount to surrender.
The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was ousted in Ukraine's Maidan Revolution, leading to Russia's annexation of Crimea and the rise of Russian-backed separatist forces. In February 2022, Putin escalated the situation by launching a full-scale invasion. During his campaign, Trump promised to end the war swiftly, and U.S. officials have engaged in discussions with both Ukraine and Russia to resolve Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.
Putin has framed the invasion as a "special military operation" necessary to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine and counter the perceived threat of Ukraine joining NATO. Ryabkov, who also oversees arms control, noted that Russia has not observed a significant shift in the U.S. approach to Ukraine and warned that Moscow will not respond to ultimatums. "Without addressing the root causes of the conflict, no agreement is possible," he said. "Half-measures are not an option for us."
Ukraine and its Western allies, led by the U.S., have accused Russia of pursuing a colonial-style land grab. Kyiv's supporters have pledged to defeat Russian forces by providing substantial military aid. Currently, Moscow controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of four eastern and southern regions. While Russia claims full sovereignty over these areas, Ukrainian forces still hold approximately 26,000 square kilometers of territory, according to open-source data.
In November, Reuters reported that Putin is open to discussing a peace deal with Trump but refuses to make major territorial concessions and insists that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a recent interview with Reuters, expressed his desire for Ukraine to supply the U.S. with rare earth minerals and other resources in exchange for financial support in the war effort.
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