Russia Still to Receive Satisfactory Proposals to Begin Peace Negotiations on Ukraine

Moscow hasn't received a worthy offer yet to start negotiations on Ukraine, according to Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin. His comments were published on Monday and came just days after the former U.S. President Donald Trump looked sanguine about Washington's good progress in brokering an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia's Stance on Negotiations

Galuzin told the RIA Russian state news agency that any negotiation process should take into consideration Russia's legitimate interests and remove the underlying reasons for the conflict.

"It is important that words are followed by concrete actions that take into consideration the interests of Russia and reflect readiness to eliminate the root causes of the crisis, to recognize new realities," he said.

The war in Ukraine, which is nearing its third anniversary on Feb. 24, remains at the forefront of geopolitics. While Kyiv and its allies consider Russia's actions to be an unproven aggression intended to expand into a neighbor nation, Moscow portrays the military operation as crucially important for securing Russia's own security and its sovereignty.

Comments from Trump Regarding Potential Negotiation

Over the weekend, Trump said he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war and he expects to have more talks in the future.

"I do believe we're making progress," Trump said. "We want to stop the Ukraine-Russia war."

His comments marked a possible pivot in how the United States engages in efforts to end the conflict. Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the war and said he would meet with Putin at the right time. He also said that he would be meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy later in the week to discuss possible solutions.

Mixed Signals from the Kremlin

Meanwhile, despite Trump's assertions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has remained more circumspect, saying that different messages on the issue are coming up, and some of them he might not even know about.

"Thus, in this context, I cannot confirm or refute it," Peskov said when asked by TASS news agency about discussions between Putin and Trump.

This ambiguity reflects the complexity of diplomatic efforts surrounding the war. Both Moscow and Washington recognize the need for dialogue, but substantive proposals seem to be lacking.

Position of Ukraine Regarding the War and NATO Integration

Zelenskiy has refused to cede any land to Russia, saying Ukraine's sovereignty and its ambitions to join NATO remain his red line. Speaking to Reuters, he said Ukraine could provide the United States with rare earth minerals in exchange for continued financial and military aid.

On its side, Russia also spoke up with conditions for holding peace negotiations: the end of NATO expansion and protection for Russian speakers in Ukraine.

"Concrete proposals of this nature have not yet been received," Galuzin said, restating Moscow's readiness for talks but insisting its preconditions were not changing.

The Future of Peace Talks

With diplomatic signals from various sides, there's no guarantee yet that any serious peace negotiations are in the cards. Donald Trump's involvement gives a chance of a breakthrough, yet the firm stance of Moscow to get real and one-sidedly beneficial proposals indicates difficulties that lie ahead.

The war is nearly at its third anniversary, and the international community continues to watch with bated breath, awaiting a resolution that stabilizes the region and resolves the underlying geopolitical tensions.

Conclusion

The war in Ukraine is an intractable, high-stakes conflict for all sides. Discussions of peace talks emerge, yet substantial negotiations have not taken place. Each of Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine holds tight to a position that complicates any potential resolution, even if it is not impossible. The forthcoming months will be crucial in determining whether or not diplomacy can provide the path toward the end of this war.

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