Russia will seek assurances that NATO will refrain from allowing Ukraine to join and that Ukraine will maintain a neutral stance in any peace agreement, according to a Russian deputy foreign minister.
“We will insist that solid security guarantees be included in this arrangement,” Alexander Grushko said to the Russian news source Izvestia.
“Among these guarantees should be Ukraine’s neutral status and the commitment of NATO countries not to admit it into the alliance,” he stated.
This development follows a statement from US President Donald Trump, who indicated he would have a conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding ongoing discussions about a potential ceasefire in the continuing three-year conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump remarked, “Significant progress was made over the weekend. We hope to find a resolution to this war.”
When asked about concessions, Trump said, “We will discuss land and power plants.” He also noted that he was already discussing “dividing certain assets” between Russia and Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine have decided to suggest a 30-day truce to Russia. While Putin has expressed support for a ceasefire, he has also laid out stringent requirements for establishing peace.
One contentious point is the western Kursk region of Russia, where Ukraine conducted a military operation last August and captured some territory.
Putin has stressed that Russia has reestablished complete control over Kursk, claiming that Ukrainian troops in that area “have been cut off.” He has also raised several concerns regarding the monitoring and enforcement of a ceasefire along the eastern frontline.
At the same time, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Putin of attempting to “undermine” diplomatic efforts aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire.
Throughout his election campaign, Trump consistently pledged to bring an end to the conflict, which began with Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, on “day one” of his new administration.
Less than a month post-inauguration, Trump had a call with Putin that reportedly lasted 90 minutes, focusing on beginning negotiations to end the war immediately.
