Russia has reiterated its demand that Ukraine remain neutral and be permanently excluded from NATO membership as part of any potential peace agreement. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that Moscow would insist on “ironclad security guarantees” in negotiations aimed at ending the three-year war.
“We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” Alexander Grushko told Russian media outlet Izvestia.
“Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of NATO countries to accept it into the alliance.”
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire continue, with US President Donald Trump set to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Speaking aboard “Air Force One” on Sunday evening, 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.”
When pressed on potential concessions, Trump revealed that discussions would include territorial disputes and energy infrastructure. “We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” he stated, adding that negotiations have already touched on “dividing up certain assets” between Russia and Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine have jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has outlined strict conditions for any agreement.
One major sticking point remains Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion last August. While Putin asserts that Russian troops have fully regained control of the area and isolated Ukrainian forces, concerns persist over monitoring and enforcing a ceasefire along the contested eastern frontline.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Putin of attempting to derail diplomatic efforts, stating that Russia is deliberately “sabotaging” negotiations.
Further complicating discussions, US envoy Steve Witkoff declined to clarify how Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories would be addressed in a potential peace deal. Russia currently controls around 20% of Ukraine.
Trump has consistently vowed to end the war swiftly, having pledged during his campaign to secure peace “on day one” of his administration. Less than a month into his presidency, he held a 90-minute call with Putin to kickstart negotiations.
As talks continue, the path to a ceasefire remains uncertain, with deep divisions over territorial claims, Ukraine’s sovereignty, and the role of NATO in shaping the region’s future.
Melissa Enoch
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