Russia has once again made it clear that Ukraine must remain neutral and never join NATO if there is to be peace.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stressed that Moscow will demand “ironclad security guarantees” as part of any agreement to end the war.
Grushko told Russian media outlet Izvestia that Moscow will not accept any deal unless Ukraine agrees to stay out of NATO.
“We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement,” he said. “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 continue, with US President Donald Trump preparing to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed optimism.
“A lot of work’s been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” he said.
Trump and Putin to Discuss Territorial Disputes
When asked about possible compromises, Trump revealed that talks will cover land disputes and energy infrastructure.
“We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants,” he said, adding that negotiations have already explored “dividing up certain assets” between Russia and Ukraine.
The US and Ukraine have jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has set tough conditions. One issue is Russia’s western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an attack last August. Putin insists his troops have full control, but concerns remain about ceasefire enforcement along the eastern frontline.
European Leaders Respond to Peace Talks
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of undermining negotiations. He claimed Putin is “sabotaging” the process to prevent any real progress.
At the same time, US envoy Steve Witkoff refused to clarify how occupied Ukrainian territories would be handled in a potential deal. Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine.
Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war quickly. During his campaign, he pledged to secure peace “on day one.” Less than a month into his presidency, he had a 90-minute call with Putin to start negotiations.
As talks continue, major disagreements remain over land, Ukraine’s independence, and NATO’s role in the region.
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