Russia has presented the United States with a list of conditions for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and reestablish diplomatic relations, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Russia has reportedly outlined a set of demands to the United States as part of an effort to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, according to individuals with knowledge of the matter. While the specific details of Moscow’s conditions remain unclear, sources indicate they closely mirror previous Russian proposals to Ukraine, NATO, and Washington, according to Reuters.
According to the sources, Russian and American officials have engaged in multiple discussions—both in person and virtually—over the past three weeks regarding potential terms for peace. Moscow’s demands are believed to include a prohibition on Ukraine joining NATO, a commitment not to deploy foreign troops within Ukraine, and international recognition of Russia’s claim over Crimea and four additional Ukrainian provinces.
Additionally, Russia has continued to push for the U.S. and NATO to address what it describes as the “root causes” of the war, primarily NATO’s eastward expansion. These demands have been part of Russia’s position in negotiations for over two decades, featuring prominently in past diplomatic engagements with Western powers.
President Donald Trump is currently awaiting a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin on whether he will accept a proposed 30-day ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signaled a willingness to agree to such a truce as a preliminary step toward broader peace negotiations. However, it remains uncertain whether Putin will commit to the deal, and discussions on the specifics are ongoing.
Some U.S. officials and analysts have expressed skepticism about the sincerity of Russia’s diplomatic overtures. They warn that Putin, a former KGB officer, may use a ceasefire as an opportunity to strengthen Russia’s military position and exploit divisions among Ukraine’s Western allies.
Neither the Russian embassy in Washington nor the White House has issued an immediate response to requests for comment on the negotiations.
Zelenskiy, speaking in Kyiv, described a recent meeting in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Ukrainian officials as constructive. He stated that a temporary ceasefire with Russia could serve as a foundation for drafting a more comprehensive peace settlement.
Russia has reiterated many of these same demands in previous diplomatic engagements, including negotiations with the Biden administration in late 2021 and early 2022. During those talks, as Russian forces amassed along Ukraine’s borders, Moscow insisted on restrictions that would limit U.S. and NATO military activities from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.
Although the Biden administration rejected some of Russia’s terms, it attempted to engage diplomatically in hopes of preventing a full-scale invasion. However, those efforts ultimately failed, and Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
More recently, officials from Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow have revisited discussions on a draft agreement that was proposed in Istanbul in 2022 as a potential framework for negotiations. The agreement, which never materialized, included provisions requiring Ukraine to renounce its NATO ambitions, adopt a nuclear-free status, and grant Russia a veto over future military assistance agreements involving Ukraine.
The Trump administration has not disclosed details of its current approach to negotiations with Moscow. U.S. officials are reportedly engaged in two separate dialogues—one focused on resetting U.S.-Russia relations and the other on seeking a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
The administration appears divided on how to proceed. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who has played a role in discussions with Russia, described the Istanbul talks as “cogent and substantive negotiations” in a recent CNN interview, suggesting they could serve as a “guidepost” for future peace efforts. However, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s top envoy on Ukraine and Russia, expressed skepticism about the Istanbul framework, telling the Council on Foreign Relations last week, “I think we have to develop something entirely new.”
Observers note that Russia’s demands are not solely aimed at negotiating an agreement with Ukraine, but also appear to be part of a broader effort to reshape security arrangements with the West. Over the past two decades, Moscow has repeatedly sought commitments that would constrain NATO’s military presence in Europe and reinforce Russia’s sphere of influence.
“There’s no indication that Russia is prepared to compromise,” said Angela Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former U.S. intelligence analyst for Russia and Eurasia. “The demands remain unchanged. This suggests that they are not genuinely interested in a meaningful ceasefire or lasting peace.”
In prior negotiations, U.S. officials reviewed Russian proposals that sought to limit military exercises in Eastern Europe, ban the deployment of U.S. intermediate-range missiles within striking distance of Russian territory, and prohibit NATO operations in regions spanning from Eastern Europe to Central Asia. These conditions, which echo long-standing Russian security concerns, have been a recurring theme in Moscow’s diplomatic engagements.
“These are the same Russian demands we’ve seen since 1945,” said Kori Schake, a former Pentagon official and director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. “Given the actions of the Trump administration in recent weeks, European allies aren’t just concerned about being abandoned—they fear we may have aligned ourselves with Russia’s objectives.”
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