Moscow has voiced strong opposition to the latest US peace propositions, citing the minimal advancement made by Donald Trump since he assumed office in January regarding the conclusion of the Ukraine war. Sergei Ryabkov, a foreign policy adviser to Vladimir Putin, pointed out that some of Russia’s fundamental demands were overlooked in the US proposals, indicating a rare concession from Russia that dialogues with the US over Ukraine had seen little movement in recent weeks.
Ryabkov mentioned that Russia takes the proposed US models and solutions seriously but cannot accept them in their current form. He highlighted that while there is an effort to establish a framework for a potential ceasefire as envisioned by the Americans, it does not address Russia’s main demand of solving the underlying issues of the conflict.
Putin, who frequently refers to what he claims as the “root causes” of the conflict to justify his firm stance on any prospective peace deal, has set conditions that would effectively dismantle Ukraine as an independent, functioning state, aligning it closer to Russia’s sphere of influence. However, these demands face significant resistance from Ukraine and its allies.
Despite efforts to negotiate, including a 30-day energy ceasefire agreed upon in Saudi Arabia, actual progress has been limited, with both sides continuing to target each other’s energy infrastructure. The Trump administration’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Black Sea faced resistance from Moscow, which sought concessions such as easing European sanctions, a demand swiftly rejected by Brussels.
Though the Trump administration remains committed to halting the war, with Trump expressing his intention to speak with Putin again, the Kremlin seems reluctant to accept a full ceasefire without concessions, including the halting of arms and intelligence supplies to Ukraine from the US and its allies. This highlights the ongoing challenges and complexities in achieving peace in Ukraine.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/01/russia-cannot-accept-us-peace-plan-ukraine-current-form
