Russia ready for Trump’s peace proposal: Deputy FM
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Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister warns that Moscow will consider the US President-elect's proposals but will not compromise on its core national interests.
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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov arrives to attend the talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, in Moscow, Russia, on November 14, 2024. (AP)
Russia is willing to consider US President-elect Donald Trump’s ideas for resolving the Ukraine conflict, but so far, no specific proposals have been received, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in an interview with CNN.
While Trump has often stated that he could bring an end to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, Ryabkov mentioned that Moscow has not had any direct communication with Trump or his team about the matter since his election victory last month.
The diplomat emphasized that Russia is open to evaluating the future US president’s proposals once they are presented, but made it clear that Moscow will not compromise on its fundamental national interests.
In the interview, Ryabkov also stated that there is currently "zero" chance of a compromise between Moscow and Kiev, as the positions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seem "incompatible".
The diplomat told CNN that “the moment people in Kiev begin to understand there’s no way Russia will go the way they suggested – there might be openings and opportunities."
'We will prevail, no doubt'
The deputy minister warned that there is "no magic solution" to the conflict and criticized the West for lacking common sense, restraint, and "sober analysis," while also underestimating Russia’s determination to protect its fundamental security interests.
“We have not lost our senses. We will not let ourselves be provoked into anything,” Ryabkov said, adding that Russia nevertheless has the “stamina and strong will” to defend its national interest “with all means,” regardless of how much money the US burns in the conflict, or what “people in the EU believe they should do to support Kiev.”
“We will prevail there, no doubt,” the diplomat said.
Advisors to US President-elect Donald Trump were said to be proposing peace plans for the Ukraine war that could involve significant territorial concessions to Russia, signaling a potentially dramatic shift in US policy.
According to interviews and statements analyzed by Reuters, the proposals suggest suspending Ukraine's NATO aspirations and leveraging US military aid to force both sides into negotiations.
Among the key figures crafting these proposals is retired Army Lieutenant-General Keith Kellogg, Trump's incoming Russia-Ukraine envoy.
Read next: Trump's Ukraine envoy proposes cutting weapons to force peace talks
