Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Alexander Grushko, has stated that the country will demand guarantees to block Ukraine from joining NATO and to ensure the country remains neutral in any peace agreement.
While recently speaking to Russian outlet Izvestia, Grushko said, “We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement. Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of Nato countries to accept it into the alliance.”
The comments come as United States President Donald Trump prepares for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, amid ongoing discussions over a possible ceasefire in the three-year conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said, “A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end.”
“We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” Trump said when asked about potential concessions. He added that he was already discussing “dividing up certain assets” between Russia and Ukraine.
The United States and Ukraine have jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire to Moscow. While Putin has signalled support for a temporary halt in fighting, he also presented a set of strict conditions that must be met for peace.
Among the sticking points is Russia’s western Kursk region, which saw a Ukrainian incursion last August that led to temporary territorial gains. Putin has since claimed that Russian forces have regained control and that Ukrainian troops in the area “have been isolated”.
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He also raised concerns about how any ceasefire would be enforced along the eastern frontline.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, has accused Putin of attempting to “sabotage” diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving an immediate ceasefire.
US envoy Steve Witkoff, who met with Putin last Thursday in Moscow, declined to comment on how territories currently under Russian occupation might be addressed in any future agreement. Russia presently holds about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory.
Trump, who pledged during his election campaign to end the war swiftly, has taken steps toward negotiations since taking office. Less than a month into his presidency, he held a 90-minute call with Putin focused on launching peace talks.
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