Russia rejects latest US proposals for Ukraine peace deal

Russia says US proposals on Ukraine fail to address root causes of the conflict.

Russia has stated that it cannot accept US proposals to end the war in Ukraine in their current form, as they fail to address issues Moscow believes are at the root of the conflict.

This statement, made by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, highlights the ongoing deadlock between Moscow and Washington over a potential resolution to the war.

Ryabkov's comments suggest that US-Russia talks have not made significant progress, following remarks by President Vladimir Putin over two weeks ago, where he indicated that US proposals would need to be revised.

Tensions have been further compounded by US President Donald Trump's growing frustration, with the president accusing Moscow of delaying a broader deal and threatening sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil if the situation remains unresolved.

"We take the models and solutions proposed by the Americans very seriously, but we can't accept them in their current form," Ryabkov stated in an interview with International Affairs. He emphasized that the proposals fail to address Russia's primary demand: resolving the root causes of the conflict.

Moscow has repeatedly called for Ukraine to abandon its NATO ambitions, for Russia to assert control over the four Ukrainian regions it claims as its own, and for a limitation on the size of Ukraine's military—demands Kyiv views as tantamount to surrender.

In response to Trump’s recent comments urging Putin to engage in a deal, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation as "very complex," acknowledging that substantial diplomatic effort is required to find common ground.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to claim it is adhering to a US-brokered moratorium on attacking Ukraine's energy facilities. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed state television that Defence Minister Andrei Belousov had briefed Putin on alleged Ukrainian violations of the agreement, which were passed on to US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As the conflict enters its fourth year, Trump’s stance has fluctuated. Earlier, he had taken a more conciliatory approach toward Russia, a position that alarmed US European allies. However, recent lobbying by European leaders, including Finland’s president, has pressured Trump to adopt a tougher position toward Russia, as he seeks a resolution to the war.