Russia rejects US peace plan for Ukraine 'in current form'

Moscow (Web Desk/Agencies): Russia has indicated that it cannot accept the US proposals to end the war in Ukraine in their current form as they fail to address the fundamental issues Moscow believes are at the heart of the conflict.

A senior Russian diplomat, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, explained that while Russia takes the US's suggestions seriously, they are unable to move forward with them in their present form.

According to Ryabkov, the proposals do not include any provisions that tackle the core issues that Russia claims triggered the war. Moscow's main demand, which remains unmet in the US proposals, is to resolve the underlying causes of the conflict, something Ryabkov emphasized must be addressed.

This statement follows remarks from President Vladimir Putin earlier in the month, when he asserted that the US's approach needed substantial revisions. The diplomat’s comments suggest that despite ongoing discussions, US-Russia negotiations have stalled.

The deadlock is compounded by US President Donald Trump’s growing impatience with Moscow.

Trump has recently expressed frustration, saying he is "pissed off" with Putin and has hinted at potential sanctions on countries buying Russian oil if Moscow does not cooperate in striking a broader deal.

Putin has been clear about his demands, which include Ukraine abandoning its NATO ambitions, Russia asserting control over four Ukrainian regions, and placing limitations on Ukraine's military.

Ukraine, on the other hand, sees these demands as unacceptable, viewing them as an ultimatum for surrender. The situation remains tense, with little sign of compromise.

While Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, maintain that Russia is in contact with the US, the negotiations have been slow, and both sides acknowledge the complexity of the issues at hand. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the talks are difficult and require substantial effort to move forward, underlining the challenge of resolving the conflict.

Despite some initial signs of conciliatory rhetoric from Trump, especially in earlier phases of the conflict, the US president’s tone has shifted in recent days. Increased pressure from European leaders, including Finland’s president, has led Trump to adopt a firmer stance on Russia, suggesting that a tougher approach may be necessary to hold Moscow accountable.